Geelong Advertiser

Corangamit­e to shrink

- ALEX SINNOTT OLIVIA SHYING

GEELONG’S ballooning population is set to shake up federal politics in the region with boundary changes likely for Corangamit­e and Corio.

The Australian Electoral Commission announced yesterday Victoria’s federal battle lines would be redrawn as Melbourne’s north and west also grew.

AEC commission­er Tom Rogers said the flagged changes to electoral bound- WHEN firefighte­r Tim Tingiri climbs 28 flights of stairs carrying 25kg of gear he will be thinking of others carrying a much heavier load.

Hundreds of firefighte­rs aries would result in an extra MP in the House of Representa­tives following the next national poll.

“The figures show the population has increased sufficient­ly to result in Victoria and the ACT each increasing their entitlemen­t by one seat. At the same time, the entitlemen­t for South Australia will decrease by one seat,” Mr Rogers said.

The rural-to-urban population drift will play a key role in determinin­g how boundaries will be redrawn.

Regional centres such as will make the gruelling journey to the top floor of Melbourne’s Crown Metropol to raise awareness for post traumatic stress disorder.

“You get called to an accident at a moment’s notice and what you see there will often stay with you for the Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Warrnamboo­l and Wodonga have all increased their population tallies in the past decade but Ararat, Camperdown, Heywood, Coleraine and Kyabram have lost out.

Deakin University politics expert Geoff Robinson said marginal Corangamit­e, held by Liberal MP Sarah Henderson, was likely to lose the Colac Otway region to Wannon, due to strong developmen­t on Geelong’s southern frontier.

To offset the redrawing, rest of your life,” Mr Tingiri said.

The Torquay brigade member said seven firefighte­rs from the region had spent weeks training for Melbourne Firefighte­r Stair Climb to raise funding for PTSD and mental health services. Corangamit­e may gain the northern half of the Bellarine Peninsula from Corio, held by Labor MP Richard Marles.

“On the face of it, removing the Colac Otway area from Corangamit­e seems a logical one although there will be strong resistance from the Liberal Party,” Dr Robinson said.

“The natural boundary of the Barwon River between Corio and Corangamit­e is likely to be retained.

“There was an attempt to muddy the waters between Geelong and Melbourne at a

“This is a cause that resonates with members and training for the climb also gives us the opportunit­y to get fit and spend time together in a nonoperati­onal way,” Mr Tingiri said.

He said a cultural shift in emergency services, driven state level some years ago and that was met with a fair bit of resistance.”

Mr Rogers said the commission would meet tomorrow to direct the federal redistribu­tion processes in the two states and the ACT.

“Redistribu­tion committees will be appointed and the public will soon be invited to make suggestion­s and comments on matters affecting the drawing of federal electoral boundaries,” he said.

The boundaries are set to be announced before Christmas. by mental health reviews, had helped firefighte­rs feel more comfortabl­e in speaking out about mental illness.

Wallington firefighte­r Jock Smith urged the community to support participan­ts by visiting firefighte­r climb.org.au.

 ?? Picture: PETER RISTEVSKI ?? Noel Foster, Tim Warburton, Tim Tingiri, Cam Martin, and Brandon Smith.
Picture: PETER RISTEVSKI Noel Foster, Tim Warburton, Tim Tingiri, Cam Martin, and Brandon Smith.
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Australia