Legendary arts figure Betty Churcher narrowly missed out on having an ACT federal electorate named in her memory, after the Australian Electoral Commission voted to keep the seat of Canberra.
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In a proposal for redistribution released on Friday, about 10,200 voters in Canberra's north will move into the electorate currently held by Labor's Gai Brodtmann, while Andrew Leigh's seat of Fraser looks set to be renamed "Fenner", in honour of an Australian scientist Professor Frank Fenner.
The changes would come into force at the next election, ahead of population and enrolment growth over the next four years. A redistribution was required under Commonwealth electoral rules because more than seven years had passed since the last redistribution took place in the ACT.
Voters in the suburbs of Acton, Black Mountain, Campbell, the city, Reid, Russell would move electorates, along with parts of Barton, Braddon, Pakes, Pialligo, Turner, the Molonglo Valley and Majua district.
The projected change would make Canberra the electorate with the largest population in the country. The committee was required to create electorates with between 121,330 and 148,293 electors.
The four-person redistribution committee was split on a proposal to rename Canberra as "Churcher", in recognition of the respected Australian arts and cultural figure who died in March. A casting vote in favour of retaining the existing name settled the dispute.
The committee was unanimous on the new name of Fenner, rejecting a proposal for the existing name of Fraser to become recognition for 1950s and 60 member for the ACT James Fraser, and former prime minister Malcolm Fraser, who died in March.
Professor Fenner, who died in 2010, is known around the world for his landmark work helping to eradicate smallpox, fighting malaria in Papua New Guinea and controlling Australia's rabbit plague.
He had a long association with the Australian National University, although the campus is proposed to remain in the seat of Canberra.
Professor Fenner first joined the John Curtin School of Medical Research in 1949 as professor of microbiology. He was a foundation fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and the university is home to the Fenner Building, the Fenner School of Environment and Society, and Fenner Hall.
The Frank Fenner Medal is awarded to the top PhD thesis each year.
Vice-Chancellor Ian Young welcomed the move to recognise Professor Fenner, adding to praise from the Fenner family and community and academic leaders.
"This honour will place ANU and its outstanding research strengths at the heart of the Canberra community, and demonstrate the university's ties with Canberra," Professor Young said.
In a statement, Dr Leigh said there was no doubt Canberra's north was experiencing rapid growth and new residents needed adequate representation in parliament.
"Frank Fenner is an extraordinary Australian, and it would be an honour to represent an electorate named after him. At the same time, I would be sad to see the loss of an electorate named after Jim Fraser, who helped build our city in the post-war decades."
"However, I'm concerned about the cost to taxpayers from moving my electorate office, as would need to happen under the proposed boundaries," he said.
Calling for an alternative redistribution, Dr Leigh proposed leaving Braddon and Civic in the northern electorate in a bid to save taxpayers as much as $500,000 in office relocation costs.
Chairman of the Committee and Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers said by mid-2019, enrolment totals for the two ACT seats would mean neither Canberra or Fraser would meet the numerical rules and requirements under the Electoral Act.
"The status quo cannot be maintained, because without boundary adjustment, electoral enrolment in the Division of Canberra will become comparatively too small and Fraser too large," Mr Rogers said.
Members of the public have until October 9 to provide written objections to the planned redistribution. The process will be finalised by January 2016.
