It is almost the size of France, and further growth means less representation in state parliament for the people of the bush. 

The risked growth exists because more electorate seats are needed for the booming population in South East Queensland.  

The electoral commission is expected to look at redistribution of the 89 parliamentary seats next February.

According to Shadow Attorney-General Ian Walker, the commission may choose to combine larger underpopulated electorates like Mount Isa to ensure a fair number of voters are represented in the increasingly heavier populated areas between Caboolture and the Gold Coast. 

“Neil Laurie, the clerk of the Parliament, said this in the evidence to the committee last week half jokingly, that unless things change Robbie’s (Mount Isa State Member) southern boundary is going to be the western suburbs of Toowoomba,” Mr Walker said.

“Giving them (MPs) extra staff or extra computers or extra travel allowance still doesn’t allow people to have reasonable contact with their elected representatives, and that’s got to be part of democracy with all the other parts of their system.” 

Because the Mount Isa electorate has a total 19,419 voters in an area of more than 500,000 square kilometres it is at risk of having its size increased to cover similar numbers to those of smaller electorates. 

It may even merge with other electorates such as Gregory. 

Mr Walker attended a parliamentary legal affairs committee in the city of Mount Isa on Monday to recommend legislation that will give the electorate commission power to increase the number of State seats in the redistribution. 

He also recommended increased leniency for larger electorates so they would not need the same number of voters as higher populated areas. 

Large electorates over 100,000 square kilometres were permitted less voters of two per cent of its area, Mr Walker said. 

This means Mount Isa needs 11,404 less voters. If there was no leniency it would need to cover a greater area to ensure it has the same number as larger density areas. 

The LNP wanted to double the leniency number to four per cent. 

Mr Walker said there was no intention of making electorates like Mount Isa smaller than they were already. 

“I think our changes really would only be sufficient to keep it the size that it is,” he said. 

“Our concern is without these changes it will continue to be bigger and we know it is difficult with these big seats to be serviced as it is.”