The augmented Electoral Commission for Tasmania has considered the submissions received during the further objections period and the evidence presented at the public consultation session held in Hobart on 31 July 2026.
The augmented Electoral Commission has determined that the proposal to change the name of the Electoral Division of Franklin will not be adopted at this time and the names of Tasmania's five federal Electoral Divisions (referred to as electorates below) will remain Bass, Braddon, Clark, Franklin and Lyons.
The augmented Electoral Commission also determined that the electoral boundaries proposed on 15 July 2026 will be adopted without change.
Electorate names
In reaching its decision, the augmented Electoral Commission carefully considered the proposal to rename the electorate of Franklin to Tongerlongeter.
The augmented Electoral Commission acknowledged the support expressed for recognising Tongerlongeter and considered the case for the proposed name to be very strong. Members also acknowledged Tongerlongeter's strong historical and geographical connection to the area encompassed by the reconfigured electorate of Franklin.
The augmented Electoral Commission acknowledged that while there was extensive public consultation throughout the redistribution process, no specific proposal regarding the renaming of Franklin emerged until the later stages of the consultation process. The augmented Electoral Commission recognised that those who participated in the consultation about the proposal, including Aboriginal persons and organisations, differed significantly in their views as to the appropriateness and desirability of the proposed renaming; and there was a body of opinion in favour of retaining the existing name.
While the consultation process has met the relevant legislative requirements, the augmented Electoral Commission has determined that, having regard to the fact that the renaming proposal emerged towards the end of the consultation process, there has been insufficient time for broad-based and considered community consultation on the proposal to rename Franklin. Accordingly, the name of Franklin will be retained for this redistribution. The augmented Electoral Commission thanks the individuals and organisations who made considered submissions. It was especially grateful for the information and insights that were presented to it.
Electoral boundaries
The electoral boundaries proposed by the augmented Electoral Commission on 15 July 2026 have been adopted without change. Full details of the proposed redistribution, including the reasons for the proposed electoral boundaries, are available in the 15 July 2026 announcement.
The names and boundaries of Tasmania's federal electorates resulting from this redistribution will take effect at the next federal election.
Next steps
Tasmania’s redistribution will be formally determined on Thursday 8 October 2026, when a notice of determination is published in the Commonwealth Government Notices Gazette. While Members of the House of Representatives will continue to represent their current electorate, any federal election for which a writ is issued after 8 October 2026 will be conducted using the new boundaries.
Maps will be available on the AEC website on 8 October 2026. The AEC will publish the augmented Electoral Commission's report containing the reasons for its determination after that report is tabled in the Australian Parliament.