The Australian Electoral Commission confirmed last Thursday that the Boorowa region will be joining the rest of the Hilltops under the electorate of Riverina.

Member for Riverina Michael McCormack has welcomed the news and welcomed the communities into his boundary, while also farewelling parts of the electorate that have now been rezoned into different boundary areas.

In June the AEC announced the significant changes which would see the whole of the Hilltops moved into the one electorate instead of two thirds in one and the Boorowa area in the Hume electorate.

“This means the Local Government Areas of Bland, Forbes and Parkes will be moved out of the Riverina electorate into the Parkes electorate and the Riverina will now include Snowy Valleys and Yass Valley LGAs from the Eden-Monaro electorate and the Upper Lachlan LGA as well as the Boorowa section of the Hilltops LGA from the Hume electorate," Mr McCormack said.

“The AEC advises the new boundaries will be formally determined when gazetted on Thursday 10 October 2024."

Mr McCormack has thanked his constituents in Bland, Forbes and Parkes Shires for allowing him to represent them over the past years.

“I would like to take the opportunity to once again thank the people of the Bland, Forbes and Parkes Shires. I have been truly honoured to represent their interests in Canberra and will continue to support them until the next Federal Election, which is due before May 2025," he said.

“I have established wonderful working relationships with each Shire’s community leaders and stakeholders, including the councils and I sincerely thank them for their professionalism and support, particularly each area’s past and present mayors – Bland Shire’s Neil Pokoney, Tony Lord and Brian Monaghan, Forbes Shire’s Graeme Miller and Phyllis Miller OAM and Parkes Shire’s Ken Keith OAM and Neil Westcott."

Mr McCormack said he is very eager to be able to represent the whole Hilltops as well as the new LGAs which have joined Riverina.

“By the same token, I am looking forward to the opportunity to represent Boorowa and the communities of Snowy Valleys, Upper Lachlan and Yass Valley LGAs to continue to work tirelessly to fiercely advocate for and on their behalf," he said.

“I intend to hit the road as soon as practicable to meet as many people as possible in the newer parts of the electorate as well as continuing to service the current electorate to the best of my ability."

Mr McCormack is aiming to continue fighting for the communities in the Riverina and representing them in the Parliament in Canberra.

“I am determined to continue to build on my strong record of delivery for the Riverina electorate and have the dedication, energy and experience to deliver on this commitment for the people who live, work and raise their families in this beautiful part of the world," Mr McCormack said.

“The current Riverina electorate is 48,988 square kilometres in size – larger than some countries. The new boundaries expand the electorate’s size to about 52,410 square kilometres (the fourth largest of 46 Federal electorates in New South Wales) and the voting population will rise from around 118,000 (117,895) to 127,626.”