Divisional boundary reviews

Divided local governments are reviewed in the year before the local government elections, to ensure each division or ward has a reasonable proportion of electors (quota), in accordance with the Local Government Act 2009 and City of Brisbane Act 2010.

Quota

As people move into and around Queensland, the internal boundaries of divided local governments need to be reviewed and adjusted so each division or ward has a similar number of voters, ensuring each vote carries equal weight at the local government elections.

The quota is calculated by dividing the total number of enrolled electors in a local government area by the number of councillors, excluding the mayor. A range of plus or minus either 10 per cent or 20 per cent from this calculation is allowed depending on the number of electors in a local government area:

More than 10,000 electors: 10 per cent.
For any other local government area: 20 per cent.

See section 15 of the Local Government Act 2009 and section 17 of the City of Brisbane Act 2010 for more information.

Timeframes

The Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) must review enrolment within each divided council, no later than the 1 October, two years before the local government elections and must notify the Minister responsible for Local Government (the Minister) and the local governments of the results.

If a review of divisional boundaries is required, this must be conducted in the year before the local government elections, following referral by the Minister.

Upcoming reviews

The ECQ is monitoring enrolment within Queensland’s divided local governments in preparation for divisional boundary reviews to be conducted prior to the March 2028 local government elections.