New South Wales Consolidated Acts

ELECTORAL ACT 2017 - SECT 27

27 Revised redistribution determination

(1) As soon as practicable after the Redistribution Panel has concluded its consideration of any submissions made to it (including any submissions and comments made under section 25), the Panel must consider its draft determination and prepare a revised determination of the names and boundaries of electoral districts.

(2) If the Redistribution Panel is of the opinion that the Panel's revised determination will not be significantly different from the draft determination, the Panel is to finally determine the names and boundaries of electoral districts.

(3) If the Redistribution Panel is of the opinion that the Panel's revised determination will be significantly different from the draft determination, the Panel must give public notice of its revised determination of the names and boundaries of electoral districts--

(a) in the Gazette, and

(b) on the Electoral Commission's website, and

(c) in a newspaper published or circulating in New South Wales.

(4) The public notice must--

(a) include a written statement that the following is available for inspection on the Electoral Commission's website--

(i) a map setting out the Redistribution Panel's proposed names and boundaries of electoral districts,

(ii) the Panel's reasons for making the revised determination, and

(b) invite objections in writing, to be lodged with the Panel within 30 days after the date the public notice was given (the
"objection period" ), relating to the revised determination, and

(c) invite comments in writing, to be lodged with the Panel within 14 days after the expiry of the objection period (the
"comments period" ), relating to any objection received by the Panel under this section, and

(d) notify the public that any objections and comments lodged with the Panel will be made available for public inspection on the Electoral Commission's website as soon as is reasonably practicable after the expiry of the objection period or comments period, as the case requires, and

(e) state that a further public hearing may be held relating to any such objections or comments.

(5) The Redistribution Panel is to make a copy of any objection or comment lodged with the Panel under this section available for public inspection on the Electoral Commission's website as soon as is reasonably practicable after the expiry of the objection period or comments period, as the case requires.

(6) If public notice is given under subsection (3)--

(a) a person who, or an organisation that, was entitled to make submissions to the public hearing may lodge with the Panel a written objection or comment relating to an objection, and

(b) the Redistribution Panel must hold a public hearing into any such objection or comment, and

(c) section 26 applies to a public hearing into any such objection or comment under this section as if the objection or comment were a submission or comment lodged with the Redistribution Panel in relation to a draft determination.

Note : Section 26 (1), as applied, provides that the Redistribution Panel must hold a public hearing into an objection or comment made under this subsection unless the Redistribution Panel is of the opinion that--

(a) the matters raised in the objection or comment were already raised, or are substantially the same as matters that were already raised, in suggestions, objections or comments lodged under this Division, or

(b) the objection or comment is frivolous or vexatious.

(7) The Redistribution Panel must, as soon as practicable, complete--

(a) the Panel's consideration of any objections and comments lodged with it under this section, and

(b) any public hearings into those objections.

(8) As soon as practicable after the Redistribution Panel has completed the public hearing under subsection (6) into any objections or comments, the Panel is to finally determine the names and boundaries of electoral districts.

(9) The Redistribution Panel is not required to invite further suggestions, submissions, objections or comments or to hold any hearings into any such further suggestions, submissions, objections or comments that are received.