WA gets a new electorate, NSW loses out

West Australians often gripe about how much they lose to the eastern states, but at the next election they'll take something back - a politician.

The latest population statistics show there are enough voters in WA now to merit an extra representative in federal parliament, the Australian Electoral Commission says.

Creating a 16th electorate in WA will come at the expense of NSW, which will drop from 48 to 47 seats.

The commission will also take another look at electorate boundaries in the ACT, where it's been seven years since the last redistribution.

But the nation's capital won't get an extra seat despite it having two of the most populous electorates.

Redistribution committees for NSW, WA and the ACT will soon be appointed and take public suggestions for changes.

The new electoral boundaries are not expected to be finalised until late 2015 or early 2016.

The next federal election is due in late 2016.