WA’s electoral boundaries alter ahead of 2021 poll

The battlelines for WA’s next State Election are drawn, with the new electoral boundaries revealed ahead of the 2021 poll.

The Electoral Distribution Commission unveiled its redrawn boundaries for the State Election in March 2021, last week.

The Legislative Council’s six regions — Agricultural, Mining and Pastoral, East Metropolitan, North Metropolitan, South Metropolitan and South West — remained relatively unchanged.

In the Agricultural Region the Central Wheatbelt district gained Cuballing, Wickepin and Kulin shires from the Roe district.

Central Wheatbelt lost the shires of Wongan-Ballidu, Goomalling and Dowerin to the Moore district, while Roe gained the Shire of Jerramungup from the Albany district in the South West region.

The Shire of Jerramungup move came despite the shire’s councillors lodging an objection against the transfer and arguing the local government should remain within the Albany district.

Shire of Jerramungup president Robert Lester, a grain grower and sheep producer, said residents identified more with the Albany district.

“Most of our population classify Albany as our base,” he said.

“A lot of us go there for different services, including shopping, and our grain goes there — we are more in touch with Albany than anywhere else.”

The Agricultural Region also ceded Kalbarri, Kalbarri National Park and Zuytdorp — formerly in the Moore district — to North West Central in the Mining and Pastoral Region.

In the report, it was noted Nationals WA Member for Moore Shane Love was among those opposed to removing the Kalbarri township from Moore to boost the North West Central’s enrolment levels.

However, the commissioners agreed to the proposed changes after “careful consideration”.

“Issues raised included the township’s links with the Shire of Northampton and the City of Geraldton, and the distance from Kalbarri to the electoral office of the Member for North West Central,” it read.

“The commissioners have taken careful account of all concerns raised but at the same time are mindful of the very low numbers currently in North West Central.”