Exploding population growth in Perth’s southeast is at the centre of the WA Electoral Commission’s decision to create a new seat of Oakford for the 2025 election.
Its report on the final boundaries for the next State election have introduced significant changes for voters right across Perth’s south.
Commissioners said Oakford was a necessary addition — albeit at the expense of a country electorate — to incorporate significant growth in electors since the 2019 distribution.
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READ NOW“This level of growth is not a new phenomenon,” the report said.
“It is a long-standing feature of WA’s demography and is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.”
According to the City of Cockburn, about 112,000 people live in the city’s 23 suburbs and this number is projected to grow to more than 170,000 by 2036.
The City of Armadale says it is the fourth fastest-growing local government in WA.
30,000 people are expected to move into the Armadale suburbs of Haynes, Hilbert, Harrisdale and Piara Waters between 2016 and 2036.
Those suburbs, minus Harrisdale, will be part of the Oakford electorate from 2025, along with Anketell, Aubin Grove, Casuarina, Forrestdale, Oakford, Wandi and parts of Banjup.
Commissioners said this was to alleviate the elector number pressures in the surrounding districts of Armadale, Baldivis, Darling Range and Jandakot.
Labor MP Yaz Mubarakai’s seat of Jandakot will be heavily impacted as a result of the new electorate, with realigned boundaries for his seat set to make it more competitive for the Liberals.
Jandakot will also lose more than 5000 people.
The Mumbai-born member previously served as a councillor for the City of Cockburn before being elected to State Parliament in 2017.
Labor-held Bibra Lake — the new name for Willagee — will gain Hamilton Hill and parts of Spearwood in a move that advantages current MP Peter Tinley. The seat will also cede O’Connor, Willagee, part of Lake Coogee and part of Kardinya.
Minor changes will see the seat of Cannington gain Kenwick and part of Thornlie and cede Parkwood, as well as its MP Bill Johnston — who last week confirmed he would retire from politics at the next election.
Mr Johnston was first elected to the seat of Cannington in 2008.
The State’s Energy Minister said his time in Parliament had been a “great privilege” and his selection to Cabinet a “rare honour”. His departure will signal an impending shakeup for the Cook-led ministry as it gears up for the next election.
Commissioners have also “consolidated” the district of Fremantle into centre localities, which is to absorb expected population growth in the port city’s future.
Fremantle — held by Simone McGurk — will gain part of Coogee and East Fremantle while ceding parts of Hamilton Hill, O’Connor, Palmyra and Spearwood.