Major Overhaul of Tasmanian Electoral Boundaries Could Affect 27 Percent of Voters

A redraw of Tasmania’s federal election map could see more than a quarter of voters placed into different electorates, under a proposal unveiled by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).

The draft redistribution, released on Feb. 27, recommends changes to four of the state’s five House of Representatives divisions. Only Braddon, which covers the north-west and west coast, would remain untouched.

Electoral Commissioner Jeff Pope said about 27 percent of enrolled voters would be reassigned if the new boundaries were adopted. The bulk of the shifts would occur in the electorates of Clark, Franklin and Lyons, reflecting population movements and projected enrolment trends.

“All proposed changes are driven by the need to balance current and projected enrolment across electorates but also to have electorates that reflect connected communities of interest and natural boundaries wherever possible,” he said.

Seats to Be Reshaped

Under the proposal (pdf), the northern seat of Bass would expand to include Blackstone Heights and Prospect Vale, currently part of Lyons. The commission noted their strong links to Launceston’s economic and service networks.

Franklin would be reconfigured to incorporate the local government areas of Brighton, Glamorgan Spring Bay, Sorell and Tasman. The adjustment is designed to create a more geographically consistent seats in Tasmania’s south-east and eliminate non-contiguous sections.

Clark would stretch further south, absorbing the Huon Valley and the remaining areas of Kingborough. If adopted, it would become the country’s southern-most federal electorate.

Lyons would be redrawn as a more compact, predominantly south-central seat. It would gain Glenorchy but relinquish most east coast local government areas, significantly altering its current footprint.

Public submissions on the proposed redistribution are open until March 27.

The commission is also seeking views on whether Franklin should be renamed. The electorate currently honours Sir John Franklin, lieutenant-governor of Tasmania—then known as Van Diemen’s Land—from 1837 to 1843.

The redistribution comes amid broader electoral reviews also underway in the Australian Capital Territory and South Australia.

If finalised, the revised boundaries will not apply immediately. MPs elected at the 2025 federal election would continue representing their current electorates until the next national poll, when the new map would take effect.

Tasmania’s Political Reset

At the May 2025 federal election, Tasmania delivered a decisive result for Labor, recording a statewide two-party-preferred swing of 9 percent from the Liberal Party.

Former state Labor Leader Rebecca White comfortably held the central seat of Lyons for Labor, securing a 10.7 percent swing in her favour. Strong gains in the north saw Bass shift on a 9.4 percent swing, while Braddon recorded a significant 15.2 percent swing to Labor.

At the state level, Tasmania has seen unusual political instability, with voters heading to the polls four times in just seven years.