Tasmanian federal redistribution: Proposed boundaries released

The Redistribution Committee for Tasmania published its report today proposing new boundaries for the state’s federal electorates.

Committee Chair and Electoral Commissioner, Jeff Pope, said that under the proposal there would be a significant proportion of Tasmanians in the south of the state who’d be in a different electorate.

“Around 27 per cent of Tasmanians would change electorate with the vast majority coming from proposed changes to the electorates of Clark, Franklin and Lyons,” Mr Pope said.

“Proposed changes to Franklin in particular would focus the electorate in the southeast, so it comes together geographically rather than being split by the neighbouring division of Clark and the River Derwent.”

AEC YouTube - Tassie redistribution proposal

“All proposed changes are driven by the need to balance current and projected enrolment across electorates but also to have electorates that reflect connected communities of interest and natural boundaries wherever possible.”

“The Committee is keen to hear the community’s ideas about the proposal. In particular, noting the changes proposed, the Committee would like further suggestions for a potential alternative name for the electorate of Franklin – ideally, names proposed to honour deceased Australians who have a connection to Tasmania’s southeast.”

Proposed boundaries by electorate

Braddon: Remains unchanged, reflecting its stable enrolment and strong, clearly defined communities of interest.

Bass: Gains the localities of Blackstone Heights and Prospect Vale from the electorate of Lyons, reflecting the connection these communities have with Launceston’s urban, economic and service networks.

Franklin: Gains the local government areas of Brighton, Glamorgan Spring Bay, Sorell and Tasman, strengthening its south-eastern coherence and resolving its non-contiguity.

Clark: Becomes Australia’s southern-most electorate, taking in the Huon Valley local government area and the remainder of Kingborough local government area, better reflecting how communities connect and travel across the region.

Lyons: Is reshaped to become a smaller, mainly south‑central electorate gaining Glenorchy local government area and losing most of the east coast local government areas.

Geographic separation within electorates is removed, with the River Derwent forming a clear and recognisable boundary. Every electorate includes an urban or regional centre, strengthening access and representation. Importantly, the proposed changes meet the numerical requirements of the redistribution quota and projected enrolment quota for Tasmania.

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Editor’s notes:

• The proposal: Full details and maps
• Criteria for naming electorates
• Submitting ideas on the proposal (by 27 March)
• The final names and boundaries of federal electorates in Tasmania will not be determined until later this year, once ideas and feedback on the proposal have been considered and public consultation sessions have been held.
• Once the final redistribution is determined, Members of the House of Representatives elected at the 2025 federal election, and in any federal by-elections since that time, will continue to represent their respective electorates until the next federal election.
• State electoral boundaries cannot be considered by Tasmania’s federal Redistribution Committee. While Tasmanian State Parliament has historically amended the Tasmanian Constitution Act 1934 to adopt federal boundaries for its House of Assembly, the decisions to apply or seek change is for the consideration of Tasmanian Parliament.