A plan to change the boundaries of the federal seat of Lalor has garnered a mixed response from the community.
The Australian Electoral Commission has recommended moving Williams Landing, south of Federation Trail, and a large chunk of Point Cook, extending from Hacketts, Sneydes and Point Cook roads, over to the seat of Gellibrand. Parts of Altona Meadows, Laverton and Laverton North that are currently in Lalor are also likely to become part of Gellibrand.
Currently, 131,058 voters are enrolled in Lalor – more than 10 per cent above the current enrolment quota of 106,954.
Wyndham councillor Josh Gilligan said he was pleased to see Lalor had retained the Truganina industrial estate and Tarneit.
“Essentially, they’ve moved the seat further to the west,” he said. “It’s a very favourable outcome.”
But Bob Fairclough from the Point Cook Action Group said the group opposed the proposed changes because it would effectively split Point Cook between Lalor and Gellibrand.
“It’s going to make it much harder to discuss, and comment on, federal issues, because rather than dealing with one MP, we’ll be dealing with two,” he said.
The AEC will accept written objections to the proposed changes until 6pm on May 4. Objections can also be submitted at FedRedistribution-VIC@aec.gov.au
