Member for McMillan Russell Broadbent said a written proposal he put to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) to change the electorate’s name continues to gather momentum.
“I wrote to the AEC on March 15 suggesting ‘Monash’ would be a more appropriate name for this electorate,” Mr Broadbent said.
“Since that time I have been contacted by many people who are also keen to see the name of the electorate changed. While Monash was my suggestion, the ultimate decision will remain the AEC and I continue to encourage people to gather their thoughts and write to the AEC after the election.”
The seat is currently named after explorer Angus McMillan, who opened up much of Gippsland, but was also responsible for the massacre of local Indigenous people.
Sir John Monash developed the use of brown coal in the Latrobe Valley and was head of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SECV).
“Angus McMillan has a history that is well-documented. His murder of our Indigenous people is well known and it’s time to recognise that his name is no longer an appropriate one for this electorate,” he said.
“I think it’s very important we address issues like this when we get the opportunity to do it.
“Over the last few years it has been raised with me on a number of occasions and I have done quite a bit of research and had a look at the situation and realised that the name should be changed.”
Mr Broadbent believes McMillan would probably have a redistribution after the next federal election because it had well over the required number of voters in it.
When that happens, he said, the seat should also be renamed.
“It would send a message of practical reconciliation, it would send a message that we actually care about these issues and if we are not responsible to our past, we don’t understand our past, and we can’t get on with our future,” Mr Broadbent said.
*Tomorrow, Mr Broadbent will make a significant roads funding announcement with Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester.
A better use of your time might be to protect local dairy farmers.
Wow please prioritise to something that has real outcomes. Who really cares about the name when we have so many local issues. What about our inept and over charging council? Ice epidemic? Poor roads, lousy Internet to name a few.
Maybe rename it “Red Herring” 🙂
Thanks for the message, Evan. I appreciate what you’re saying. Certainly working on those other issues too. Russell
political correctness is a disease, it is leading to a number of problems such as historical revisionism as well as assaults on free speech . Re monash he does not stack up all that well ,deserted his troops for a romp with his mistress at a critical time in WW!. the high command lost faith in him after that .How many of the pastoral families of gippsland owe mcmillan a personal debt of gratitude ?How many aborigines were involved in raids on settlement communities ?
Thanks Colin. You have an interesting viewpoint.
Russell, expecting that both men have been thoroughly researched, and I mean thoroughly, I would agree. Can you recommend a book written by a respected researcher on John McMillan? Like many people, I have heard the rumours about McMillan, Butchers Creek? never seen the evidence.
Hello Ian. Thanks for the message. Caledonia Australis: Scottish Highlanders on the Frontier of Australia
by Don Watson is a good read on Angus McMillan.
Further to the other comments. What about getting Malcolm to take 265m off the ABC budget of 1billion, splitting it in to parcels of 125 thousand, and maintaining food security by helping the farmers affected by drought in QLD and dairy farmers affected by price manipulation.
As for the Ice epidemic, the only way is to evolve in to a Nation of “dobbers”. Report what you see. Take down registration numbers. Times dates etc. It is easy to remain anonymous and help the police to fight crime.
Thanks for the input Ian.
With regard to a possible name change for the electorate, lets do it! Why not Strzelecki? His name is well known (I was in Strzelecki house at Poowong Consolidated), he was a true adventurer & explorer, an immigrant & the namesake Strzelecki Ranges are bang in the middle of the electorate. Ticks the boxes for me. Check the wikipedia listing:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pawe%C5%82_Strzelecki
Great suggestion Tony. Russell
Tony, what a great suggestion!
i would be happy to live in an electorate of that name.
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