THE New South Wales seat of Murray could be expanded further east to include Narrandera under a review of state electorates – but one political party wants to see more drastic change.
Murray, held by Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Helen Dalton, was projected to have 5.6 per cent fewer electors in 2023 than the state average.
All 93 state electorates are being reviewed as part of the NSW Electoral Commission’s redistribution process, which aims to make the number of voters in each district as even as possible.
A suggestions period, drawing responses from political parties, closed on July 1.
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers were joined by Labor and the Liberal Party in suggesting the move of the Narrandera Shire area into Murray, bringing the electorate slightly above quota.
“Narrandera is a Murray Irrigation Area community, which it shares in common with Griffith, Leeton and surrounding communities,” the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers submission said.
The Nationals took a different approach, suggesting Murray be replaced by a new, larger Murray-Darling electorate.
Noting that Barwon, to Murray’s north, covered about 356,000 sq km, The Nationals suggested boundaries of the two seats be redrawn to each have a similar land mass.
Murray covers 107,000 sq km.
Under The Nationals’ plan, Griffith would become part of Barwon, while Broken Hill would move to the new Murray-Darling seat.
It was suggested that the proposed electorates would better group constituents who shared similar positions on water issues.
Narrandera was also part of The Nationals’ proposed Murray-Darling district.
The Nationals lost both Barwon and Murray to the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers at 2019 state election.
NSW electoral boundaries were last redrawn in 2013.
A public comments period for this year’s redistribution closed on Wednesday.
The public will again be able to comment after draft electoral boundaries are published.
