The MP is ‘disappointed’ by the AEC’s proposal and has not ruled out challenging the decisionFederal Labor frontbencher Mark Butler’s electorate of Port Adelaide is set to be abolished under an Australian Electoral Commission draft proposal as a result of South Australia’s declining population growth. Port Adelaide would be scrapped as part of a redrawing of boundaries, which will see the state lose one of its 11 federal electoral divisions. “I have been the proud member of Port Adelaide since 2007 and am obviously disappointed in its proposal to abolish the Division of Port Adelaide. The boundary shift would turn the traditionally marginal Hindmarsh electorate, which is currently held with 0.6% margin, into a relatively safe Labor seat, with Antony Green predicting a buffer of 8.2%. The electorate of Wakefield, held by Labor MP Nick Champion, which sits above Port Adelaide, would be redrawn to take in the northern suburbs of Butler’s division, and renamed Spence, in honour of suffragette leader, Catherine Helen Spence.

Source: The Guardian April 13, 2018 03:56 UTC