WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised the following article contains the name and image of an Indigenous person who has died.

The Australian Electoral Commission has abandoned plans to rename a Tasmanian electorate after an Aboriginal resistance leader.

Last month the AEC proposed renaming the southern Tasmanian seat of Franklin after Tongerlongeter — an Aboriginal leader and warrior who fought against British colonisation in the early 19th century — as part of its redistribution of the island state.

However the augmented Electoral Commission for Tasmania says it has decided the renaming proposal will not be adopted, leaving the names of all five of Tasmania's federal electorates — Bass, Braddon, Clark, Franklin and Lyons — unchanged.

Panel member, and Australian Electoral Commissioner, Jeff Pope said while there was support expressed for recognising Tongerlongeter, it was ultimately determined that further consultation and consideration was required.

"The panel considered the case for the proposed name to be very strong — including Tongerlongeter's strong connection to the area encompassed by the new boundaries of the electorate of Franklin," Mr Pope said.

"However, public submissions not only indicated a level of disagreement among Tasmanian Aboriginal organisations and individuals about the proposed name but also highlighted a broad sentiment that further consultation was required."

Mr Pope said public submissions indicated a level of disagreement among Tasmanian Aboriginal organisations and individuals about the proposed name, as well as highlighting broad sentiment that further consultation was required.

National Indigenous Times understands Aboriginal organisations including First Peoples (Tasmania) Aboriginal Corporation and Parrdarrama Pungenna Aboriginal Corporation endorsed the name change in their submissions.

Cassandra Pybus, who was one of several historians and authors to submit or support the name change, said Tongerlongeter was regarded as akin to an Aboriginal king by the colonial office of the day.

She told AAP she was both heartbroken and outraged to learn the change would not go ahead.

"It's like the Voice referendum. You think that people are ready to take a few baby steps, but no," she said.

"There was a discernible strain in the opposition to the name change that I could only identify as being white nationalism.

"It makes no other sense. Who are the Franklins and what is their connection to this place? Next to nothing."

Opposers of the change included Liberal, Labor and One Nation parties, as well as the Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation, who publicly rejected the electorate's renaming despite not making a submission.

"The panel did seek to engage the various members of the Tasmanian Aboriginal community on the question of the name of the electorate, and a number of organisations and individuals from the Aboriginal community took the opportunity to express their views through a formal submission," Mr Pope said.

"This outreach included contacting the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC) before and after a name was proposed, to encourage the TAC to consider making a submission, noting the submissions process is the formal way the panel can receive input under redistribution laws."

The AEC said public consultation was undertaken between October, 2025 and July, 2026, which included written numerous written submissions and presentations.

"While other name options were put forward, including Mathinna, Rooke and Woureddy, the panel had to reach its final decision based on the evidence and views already received - the redistribution process allows no more time for further consultation," Mr Pope said.

"The panel is very grateful for the large number of submissions and those who took the time to appear before public hearings, but ultimately determined that further conversations and proposals regarding any potential changes to electorate names is best considered at future redistributions of Tasmania."

Mr Pope said while while consultation was extensive, the panel accepted there is likely to be a greater level of public engagement once a name has actually been proposed.

"And that happened relatively late in this redistribution process," he said.

"Unfortunately, under the legislation, we were then tied to a 7-day period for further public consultation on the proposed name, and a public hearing needed to be held within 14 days."

The AEC said t theme expressed in public submissions included the view from some that the AEC should not propose or determine electorate name changes.

Mr Pope reiterated the independent panel always defers to redistributions laws and requirements.

"It is an independent panel of AEC and non-AEC members that must consider both electorate boundaries and names under section 73(1) of the Electoral Act," he said.

"That is, and has long been, a part of the process for federal electoral redistributions as determined by Parliament.

"Naming electorates is a process that occurs with strong reference to public input and the naming guidelines that have been compiled by Parliament's Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters over many years."

The proposal was made alongside an electoral boundary redistribution proposal, which is set to see more than a quarter of Tasmanians voting in a new electorate.

The AEC said the new boundaries of Tasmania's federal electorates — determined through this redistribution — will take effect from the next federal election.

In the meantime, members of the House of Representatives will continue to represent their electorate based on the previous boundaries until a writ is issued for the next federal election.

With AAP