Voters reject seat rethink

Push to keep Corangamite ties

THE federal electorate of Corangamite, established at Federation, should not be renamed, the majority of 30 objectors to a proposal to redraw and rename the area say.

The Australian Electoral Commission wants to rename the electorate Tucker to honour Yorta Yorta woman Margaret Tucker because of her significant work “to create a more equal and understanding society for Aboriginal people.”

But objectors say Corangamite, meaning “bitter” in Aboriginal language, has local significance despite the electorate not covering the Corangamite Shire or Lake Corangamite.

Some electors said Corangamite should not be renamed due to “trendy opinions”, while others said they were proud of its Aboriginal connection.

Aboriginal man Peter Collopy, who lives in the Corangamite electorate, said he resented the “attempt to wipe it off the map”.

“The name Corangamite is genuinely reflective of this area, our world, and us, and stands proud and strong against the overwhelming pressure from non-Aboriginal people and organisations for us to just ‘go away for good’,” Mr Collopy said.

Under other AEC changes, Corangamite’s boundaries are due to shrink from 5441sq km to 1215sq km, and the electorate is expected to lose coastal areas between Yuulong and Anglesea, and all of Golden Plains Shire, except Bannockburn, Gheringhap, Murgheboluc, Russells Bridge, Stonehaven and part of Batesford.

The Labor Party said Anglesea should be retained in Corangamite and “small localities right next door to” Winchelsea transferred to Wannon.

“Overall, the two-way exchange involves fewer than 4000 electors at both the quota and future quota dates,” the ALP said.

Golden Plains Shire objected to Inverleigh, Teesdale and Lethbridge being moved from Corangamite into the Ballarat electorate.

“These townships are all significantly more aligned to the Geelong and southern regions … including schools, sporting clubs, medical and health facilities and other essential service amenities, with travel time less than 30 minutes, while it’s over an hour to travel to Ballarat’s central business district,” the council said.

The Liberal Party said it “lamented” the potential loss of the Corangamite name due to its Aboriginal link.

Michael Thwaites, who knew Margaret Tucker when he was a child, said Corangamite should be renamed Lilardia, which was Ms Tucker’s Aboriginal middle name.