The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has announced a significant boundary redistribution that will impact over a quarter of Tasmanians, prompting a shift in electoral boundaries and a potential reshuffling of political landscapes. This move, described as the most substantial in recent memory by Electoral Commissioner Jeff Pope, aims to better align communities of interest in southern Tasmania. The changes will result in 114,000 people moving to new electorates, with a particular focus on addressing the sprawling nature of the Franklin electorate, which extended across both sides of Hobart's River Derwent, divided by the inner-city electorate of Clark.
One of the most notable changes involves the Glenorchy City Council area, which covers much of Hobart's northern suburbs. This area will move from the city-based electorate of Clark to the rural electorate of Lyons. This decision has sparked widespread community concern, as it means high-profile politicians like Federal Assistant Health Minister Rebecca White and State Treasurer Eric Abetz will no longer live in the electorates they represent. The overarching requirement to ensure electorates remain numerically balanced was the deciding factor, as Clark couldn't accommodate the necessary changes to align communities of interest in the rest of Kingborough and the Huon Valley, as well as the City of Glenorchy.
The Break O'Day council area will move from Lyons into the northern electorate of Bass, while Lyons retains the suburbs of Blackstone Heights and Prospect Vale, which were previously set to move to Bass. The decision also includes a name change, with Franklin to be renamed Tongerlongeter in honour of the Aboriginal leader and warrior who died in 1837. Public consultation will occur before the name change is confirmed, as it was not part of the February draft changes. If adopted, it will be the first time a Tasmanian electorate has been named after an Aboriginal person.
The changes will have a significant impact on various political figures. Federal Assistant Health Minister Rebecca White will live in Franklin, held by Labor colleague and Agriculture Minister Julie Collins, rather than Lyons. At the state level, Treasurer Eric Abetz, Shadow Treasurer Dean Winter, and Greens Leader Rosalie Woodruff will all live in Clark, rather than Franklin, while Opposition Leader Josh Willie and Independent MP Kristie Johnston will both live in Lyons, rather than Clark. These shifts will likely prompt parties to consider adjustments ahead of the next federal and state elections.
The article also highlights the changes in the Bass, Braddon, and Lyons electorates, providing detailed information about the shifts in local government areas and the impact on voters. The Bass electorate will gain the Break O'Day local government area from Lyons, while the Braddon electorate remains unchanged. The Lyons electorate will lose almost 35,000 voters from the south-east coast to Franklin, but will gain 33,369 voters from the local government area of Glenorchy. The article concludes by emphasizing the significant nature of these changes and the potential implications for the political landscape in Tasmania.
