REDLANDS has a new electorate name under the state redistribution announced today, with the constituency of Cleveland renamed Oodgeroo.
It has been proposed to rename the seat after Oodgeroo Noonuccal, the renowned North Stradbroke Island poet.
North Stradbroke is part of the seat of Cleveland which is held by the LNP’s Mark Robinson.
The Queensland Redistribution Commission has announced details of its redistribution of state electoral boundaries, one of the biggest rejigs in the state’s history.
The 89 seat Parliament will increase to 93 seats, with major changes in places like Mt Isa where anomalies in electorate averages will be sorted out. A raft of name changes also has occurred.
The Newman government put in motion the idea of a redistribution because people moving in and around the state had altered the balance of electors in electorates. A redistribution will ensure each electoral district is represented by a similar number of electors.
The rejig could tempt the Annastacia Palaszczuk government go to an early election if it sees an advantage in new boundaries.
Stradbroke’s Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Cameron Costello said his organisation was approached by the commission about the renaming of Cleveland as were Aunty Oodgeroo's family.
“QYAC is delighted with the decision to rename the Cleveland electorate after this great Australian and great Quandamooka elder – Oodgeroo Noonuccal (Kath Walker),’’ he said.
“Not only was Auntie Oodgeroo a great poet, educator and leading light of Australian and Indigenous literature and education, she was also a great activist for Aboriginal rights, including land rights.
“She taught and inspired Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people across the nation over many decades and her own Quandamooka people regularly turn to her thoughts and words for guidance.’’
Cleveland MP Mark Robinson said the proposed name change was a surprise but he was particularly looking at any change to boundaries.
“I enjoy serving the people in every pocket of the electorate,’’ he said. “The two major parties, the LNP and Labor, were happy to leave Cleveland pretty much as it is.’’
Mayor Karen Williams said she had no problems with Cleveland being renamed Oodgeroo as the Quandamooka people played a prominent role in the district.
She said state electorate names had always been something of an anomaly, with the seat of Redlands referring to the district but covering only the bottom third of the region.
New electoral boundaries and names are on line and objections can be lodged by March 27. The last redistribution was in 2008.
Oodgeroo died on Stradbroke in 1993.