Proposed renaming of Braddon
GREENS candidate for Braddon Jarrod Edwards wants to change the name of the electorate to ‘Lanne’, in recognition of a Tasmanian Aboriginal leader.
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GREENS candidate for Braddon Jarrod Edwards wants to change the name of the electorate to ‘Lanne’, in recognition of a Tasmanian Aboriginal leader.
Mr Edwards this morning announced he will be campaigning for and has written to the Australian Electoral Commission requesting a name change for the federal electorate in Tasmania’s North-West.
“Victoria has 11 of its 38 federal electorates named after Aboriginal people or using Aboriginal names, and around the country nearly 15 per cent of electorates are Aboriginal words. Why nothing in Tasmania?”, Mr Edwards said.
“Tasmania has five electorates named after famous white people, but nothing to reflect its tens of thousands of years of Aboriginal heritage and community leadership”
‘I’ve asked the AEC to change the name of Braddon to ‘Lanne”, after William Lanne, often referred to as ‘King Billy”.
“He is a much loved, respected and honoured member of our community and a true Tasmanian icon.
“William Lanne’s story is one of incredible resilience and also immense sadness, and it’s a story that every Tasmanian needs to know.
‘His story began here in North-West Tasmania, and given this was his homeland, what better way to honour him?
“I would consider this to be an important step towards treaty, recognition and better representation with our state and nations first people.”
Mr Edwards said he would write to Labor candidate Justine Keay and Liberal candidate Brett Whitely seeking their support for the community campaign.
The call by the Greens follows recent controversy in Hobart where the city’s Lord Mayor, Alderman Ron Christie, publicly supported adopting a dual name for the city of nipaluna.