AEC proposes to abolish federal Labor seat of Higgins

A redrawing of Australia’s electoral map could see the Albanese government lose one of its seats at the next federal election.

The Electoral Commission has proposed to dump the inner-Melbourne seat of Higgins. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Labor’s inner-east Melbourne seat of Higgins is set to be abolished at the next federal election forcing incumbent Labor MP Michelle Ananda-Rajah to either find a new seat to contest, jump to the Senate, or end her short-lived political career.

And in a further blow for Labor, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has also proposed to establish a new seat in Perth’s outer-east which on first estimates is notionally Liberal.

Higgins had long been a blue ribbon seat for the Liberal Party which had held it since it was established in 1955. But former member Katie Allen lost to Dr Ananda-Rajah at the 2022 election which Labor won.

Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Dr Ananda-Rajah said as the first Labor member for Higgins she was “obviously disappointed” by the announcement.

“I remain as committed as ever to represent this great electorate – a seat of two former Prime Ministers,” she said in a statement.

Dr Allen, who was picked for Liberal preselection in November, said it was a “curious decision” by the AEC but she would continue to “work hard and listen to voters.”

“Politics is brutal, but it’s beautiful,” she told Sky News.

“I’m putting myself forward to be a strong voice for Higgins.”

The seat of Higgins had also been held by the Howard government’s long serving treasurer Peter Costello, while former prime ministers Harold Holt and John Gorton also represented the division.

Former Prime Minister Harold Holt held the seat of Higgins before his mysterious disappearnce.

As did one of his successors as PM, Sir John Gorton. General / Alone

Former federal treasurer Peter Costello held the seat of Higgins for several years. Picture: Supplied

AEC Commissioner Tom Rogers said the changes in Victoria were required to enable a decrease from 39 to 38 electoral divisions.

“Under the proposal, some significant changes would occur, with the boundaries of Victorian divisions being amended to accommodate the decrease,” he said.

Map of the revised electoral divisions with the abolition of Higgins in Melbourne. Supplied: AEC

“Thirty-eight of the existing 39 division names would be retained with the Division of Higgins to be abolished.”

Under the plan, voters in the seat which covers the suburbs of Armadale, Kooyong, Malvern, Prahran and Toorak, will be redistributed to the neighbouring electorates of Chisholm, Hotham, Kooyong, Macnamara and Melbourne.

Labor holds Chisholm, Hotham and Macnamara, while teal independent Monique Ryan holds Kooyong and Greens leader Adam Bandt represents Melbourne.

The proposed seat in Western Australia would be named Bullwinkel, in honour of WWII hero, nurse Vivian Bullwinkel, who survived a massacre of nurses who were marched into the sea by the Japanese.

World War Two nurse Vivian Bullwinkel, who survived the infamous Bangka Island Massacre, will have a new electorate named for her.

Bullwinkel will cover Perth’s outer-eastern suburbs and extend into the wheatbelt.

Parts of Coalition-held seats of Canning, Durack and O’Connor will be hived off to create Bullwinkel, as will large portions of the Labor-held seat of Hasluck.

Objections to the AEC’s proposals must be filed by June 28.

To bring the House of Representatives back to 150 seats, the AEC is also proposing to abolish another seat in NSW with an announcement expected in coming weeks.