AEC accused of ignoring public consultation after renaming federal electorate from colonial figure to indigenous leader

Liberal MP Tom Venning has accused the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) of ignoring the wishes of his community after it renamed the federal electorate of Grey.

The AEC confirmed the SA electorate – named after colonial administrator Sir George Grey – will be renamed “O’Donoghue” after Indigenous leader Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue.

The decision was made despite the majority of public submissions to the AEC opposing the change.

Mr Venning said the AEC had failed to respect the outcome of its own consultation process, given that out of 310 submissions, 239 did not support the change.

“While it is great the Australian Electoral Commission has listened to the people of Grey on the redistribution, they have been completely ignored on the renaming,” Mr Venning said.

“The AEC is supposed to be an institution charged with upholding democracy. What is the point of the AEC conducting public consultation if, even with an overwhelming majority opposing the name change, they continue with it anyway?

“This decision will leave many of my constituents feeling like their views were not reflected in the final outcome.

“Many of the submissions from my constituents were concerned about the cost of a name change as many resources, such as maps, will have to be redone.

“This is an unnecessary cost when South Australians are already battling with the cost of living.”

Mr Venning said he had great respect for Dr O’Donoghue but believed history should not be edited.

The Australian Electoral Commission confirmed the proposal to rename the electorate had been adopted following South Australia’s federal redistribution process.

The AEC said more than 300 submissions were received on the proposed name change and acknowledged that many opposed renaming the electorate.

However, the Electoral Commission said that after considering all submissions it had determined it was time to recognise “an outstanding Australian”.

Dr O’Donoghue was the first Indigenous nurse at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and the first woman to hold a position of Regional Director in a federal government department.

It also cited her strong connection to the APY Lands within the electorate as a key reason for renaming the seat in her honour.

The redistribution process also confirmed that no urban suburbs would be added to the electorate of Grey, a decision welcomed by Mr Venning.