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Teal MP Kylea Tink North Sydney seat to be abolished in NSW redistribution

Teal MP Kylea Tink North Sydney seat to be abolished in NSW redistribution

The federal seat of North Sydney is slated for abolition under a proposed redistribution gazetted by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).

The widespread changes represent a major shakeup for more than 700,000 NSW voters. Three southern regional seats of Hume, Riverina and Eden-Monaro are also slated for significant boundary changes. Hume is held by shadow treasurer Angus Taylor.

Current North Sydney electoral boundaries. Voters will be distributed into surrounding electorates. Australian Electoral Commission

“The Division of North Sydney is proposed to be abolished,” the AEC said in the gazettal.

Under the draft plan voters from North Sydney will be moved into the neighbouring north shore seats of Bennelong, Bradfield, and Warringah.

The seat of North Sydney has existed since federation, but the name is to be now retired, the AEC said.

Independent North Sydney MP Kylea Tink was elected as part of the 2022 teal wave, replacing Liberal Trent Zimmerman. Tink holds the seat with a margin of 2.9 per cent. The seat had been previously held by former treasurer Joe Hockey.

The move is one of 39 NSW electorate boundary changes proposed on Friday.

Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers said 45 of the existing 47 seats will keep their existing names.

The seat of Cook, in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, will stay the same but be adapted to honour both explorer Captain James Cook and Sir Joseph Cook, Australia’s sixth prime minister.

Changing the meaning behind the name of the electorate of Cook will affect 116,059 voters.

“Under the proposal some significant changes would occur, with the boundaries of New South Wales divisions being amended to accommodate the decrease,” Rogers said.

The AEC said: “As a result of the proposed redistribution, 712,851 electors enrolled in New South Wales (or 12.81 per cent of all electors enrolled in New South Wales on Wednesday 9 August 2023) will change their federal electoral division.”

Objections to the changes must be made by July 12. The changes are due to come into effect in time for the next federal election.

Tink has previously said she would look to contest Bradfield, the seat to the north of her current electorate, held by Liberal MP Paul Fletcher. Tink said she would not contest Zali Steggall’s seat of Warringah.

The AEC is also proposing to abolish the inner Melbourne seat of Higgins, held by Labor.