Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens Member for Bass
Many Tasmanians are set to head to the polls in March and vote to elect local representatives who won't actually represent them for the Parliamentary term.
The Australian Electoral Commission finalised changes to electoral boundaries at the end of last month, yet we’ve had no indication those changes will become law before the State election.
People living on the West Tamar are currently in Lyons, but would see their representatives change to those elected to Bass; and in Prospect Vale, vice versa.
To let Tasmanians go to the polls in March, elect their representatives, and then move the boundaries and change their MPs mere months later is undemocratic.
The Liberals must table legislation to amend the boundaries in this last sitting week of State Parliament. This is business that needs to be prioritized in the interests of democracy ahead of the State election in March next year.
If that can't be done in this coming week, the Liberals should recall State Parliament in the new year to ensure the new electoral boundaries are in place before March.
Tasmanians can’t be expected to make their choice when they go to the ballot box, only to have that taken away from them within in months of the election.