The Division of Franklin is an Australian electoral division in Tasmania.
The division is the southernmost in Australia, located in southern Tasmania around the state capital, Hobart. It is non-contiguous, with the two parts of the division separated by the Division of Clark, based around central Hobart. As at the 2016 election, slightly more than half its electors are located on the eastern shore of the River Derwent, incorporating the entire City of Clarence, and the suburb of Old Beach from Brighton Council. The remaining electors in the division are drawn from the southern parts of the Kingborough Council such as Kingston, Tasmania and Blackmans Bay, generally south of the Huon Highway and including Bruny Island, and the entire Huon Valley Council. The division also includes the southern parts of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and Macquarie Island, neither of which have permanent populations.
As a result of the redistribution in 2026, Franklin's boundaries would be changed to cede the Huon Valley and gain much of the Tasmanian south-east coast. This would take effect at the next general election.
Geography Since 1984, federal electoral division boundaries in Australia have been determined at redistributions by a redistribution committee appointed by the Australian Electoral Commission. Redistributions occur for the boundaries of divisions in a particular state, and they occur every seven years, or sooner if a state's representation entitlement changes or when divisions of a state are malapportioned.
History
The division was one of the five established when the former Division of Tasmania was redistributed on 2 October 1903 and is named for Sir John Franklin, the polar explorer who was Lt Governor of Van Diemen's Land 1843-46.
The Division of Franklin has always been a reasonably marginal seat, changing hands between the Australian Labor Party and the Liberal Party and its predecessors. However, after 14 years of representation by former Labor and independent member Harry Quick, the seat of Franklin was considered safe Labor with Franklin one of very few electorates to record a swing to Labor at the 2010 election. Franklin also has a strong history of voting for strong candidates rather than for a particular party.
In 2005, sitting Labor member Harry Quick announced that he would retire at the 2007 election. When Labor preselected union official Kevin Harkins as a replacement, Quick, seeing him as unsuitable, appeared to endorse the Liberal candidate, Vanessa Goodwin, which was partly responsible for his expulsion from the Labor party. Harkins was eventually dropped as a candidate, and the Labor Party state secretary Julie Collins was installed as the ALP candidate.
Collins won the seat of Franklin at the 2007 election despite Labor suffering a 3.11% swing against on two party preferred results and 5.03% swing against in general results. Liberal candidate Vanessa Goodwin recorded a swing towards the party while the Australian Greens a swing towards the party similar to that of the Liberals.
Under the Australian Electoral Commission redistribution plans released in early 2026, it was proposed that Franklin cede the Huon Valley and gain much of the Tasmanian south-east coast, with the usual public consultation undertaken. In July 2026, it was announced that the Commission was additionally proposing to rename Franklin to Tongerlongeter, named after Aboriginal Tasmanian Tongerlongeter. However, noting that the name change proposal would require further consultation and consideration, the name change proposal was dropped the following month.
Members Image Member Party Term Notes William McWilliams Revenue Tariff 16 December 1903 –1906 Previously held the Tasmanian House of Assembly seat of Ringarooma. Served as leader of the Country Party from 1920 to 1921. Lost seat Anti-Socialist 1906 –26 May 1909 Liberal 26 May 1909 –17 February 1917 Nationalist 17 February 1917 –22 January 1920 Country 22 January 1920 –16 December 1922 Alfred Seabrook Nationalist 16 December 1922 –17 November 1928 Lost seat. Later elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly seat of Franklin in 1931 William McWilliams Independent 17 November 1928 –22 October 1929 Died in office Charles Frost Labor 14 December 1929 –19 December 1931 Lost seat Archibald Blacklow United Australia 19 December 1931 –15 September 1934 Lost seat. Later elected to the Tasmanian Legislative Council in 1936 Charles Frost Labor 15 September 1934 –28 September 1946 Served as minister under Curtin, Forde and Chifley. Lost seat Bill Falkinder Liberal 28 September 1946 –31 October 1966 Retired Thomas Pearsall 26 November 1966 –25 October 1969 Previously held the Tasmanian House of Assembly seat of Franklin. Lost seat Ray Sherry Labor 25 October 1969 –13 December 1975 Lost seat. Later elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly seat of Franklin in 1976 Bruce Goodluck Liberal 13 December 1975 –8 February 1993 Retired. Later elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly seat of Franklin in 1996 Harry Quick Labor 13 March 1993 –20 August 2007 Retired Independent 20 August 2007 –17 October 2007 Julie Collins Labor 24 November 2007 –present Served as minister under Gillard and Rudd. Incumbent. Currently a minister under Albanese
Election results
References
External links Division of Franklin - Australian Electoral Commission