Electoral authorities have rejected bid to rename seat of Batman over Aboriginal sensitivities

ELECTORAL authorities have made their ruling after a campaign to rename the federal Melbourne electorate of Batman due to indigenous sensitivities.

A CAMPAIGN to erase the name of Melbourne pioneer John Batman from a federal electorate has faltered.

The ALP, Greens, a local council and Aboriginal groups have been pushing for the northern suburbs seat of Batman to be renamed Wonga after a 19th century Wurundjeri tribe leader.

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They have claimed that Batman is tarnished because he was involved in the massacre of Tasmanian Aborigines before he helped found Melbourne in 1835.

John Batman signs a “treaty” with local Aborigines in 1835.

Labor’s Ged Kearney, who won the recent Batman by-election, said in her maiden parliamentary speech that she lamented the seat was named after the pioneer.

But the Australian Electoral Commission has rejected the proposed name-change as part of a broader redistribution process involving Victorian electorates.

Labor member for Batman Ged Kearney wants the electorate’s name changed to Wonga.

It did “not consider that strong enough reasons” had been provided to dump the name Batman.

John Batman Weire, a direct descendant of Batman, welcomed the decision, saying it was wrong of activists to try to “get rid of the history and heritage of Australia”.

Mr Batman Weire, who has a close relationship with Wurundjeri elder Murrundindi, said he wanted more people educated about Aboriginal culture, but not at the expense of erasing history.

John Batman descendant John Batman Weire with Wurundjeri elder Murrundindi.

Greens-dominated Darebin Council, which has moved to rename Batman Park in Northcote, said it was disappointed with the AEC’s decision and wanted it reviewed.

A council information sheet said that the AEC had recommended renaming the Gippsland seat of Murray to Nicholls in honour of Aboriginal rights activists Sir Doug Nicholls and Lady Gladys Nicholls.

“The renaming of … Batman to (Simon) Wonga provides a significant opportunity to similarly recognise the major contribution to the Victorian community by this respected Aboriginal leader,” the council said.

Northcote’s Batman Park. Picture: Ed Gardiner

Darebin has endorsed Gumbri as the new name of Batman Park, but the change needs to be approved by the state government.

Gumbri, also known as Jessie Hunter, was a respected Wurundjeri elder.

But her son Ian Hunter said that he and his brothers had not been consulted about the move and disagreed with it.

Mr Hunter said that any name change for the park should retain Batman but include the name of a 19th century Aboriginal elder like Bebejan.

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Originally published as Electoral authorities have rejected bid to rename seat of Batman over Aboriginal sensitivities