The boundaries and names of Tasmania's federal electorates are currently being reviewed. As part of this process the electorate of Denison should be renamed Inglis Clark to honour Andrew Inglis Clark. 

Andrew Inglis Clark was one of the most important reformers in Australian history and a key figure in the story of federation.

Andrew Inglis Cark:

- drafted the Australian Constitution 

- advocated for human rights to be included in the Constitution

- advocated for checks and balances in the Constitution to stop abuses of power 

- successfully advocated for the establishment of the High Court

- introduced legislation for women's right to vote and to prevent child abuse

- introduced legislation guaranteeing rights and equity for working people

- introduced legislation to prevent animal cruelty

- was a staunch opponent of corruption

- developed the fairest voting system in the world, Hare Clark

- helped establish the University of Tasmania and was its Vice Chancellor

- was a respected Supreme Court judge 

- believed in an Australia that would be free, fair, secular and tolerant 

- lived in the current electorate of Denison and represented part of that electorate in the Tasmanian Parliament

- is not properly recognised as a reforming law maker and a father of federation

Governor William Denison is not an appropriate person after whom to name an electorate in contemporary Australia. He was harsh in his treatment to convicts, sought to limit democracy and self government in Tasmania, and supported convict transportation against the wishes of the Tasmanian people.

There are precedents for changing the names of Tasmanian federal electorates. The name of the Tasmanian electorate of Darwin was changed to Braddon in honour of Sir Edward Braddon, another Tasmanian father of federation. The name of the electorate of Wilmot was changed to Lyons in honour of Australia's only Tasmanian-born Prime Minister, Joseph Lyons.   

The following words were written in praise of Andrew Inglis Clark in the Hobart Mercury in November 1907:

"The name of Andrew Inglis Clark deserves to be remembered...with a tenderness and regard which few other public men have been able to so justly claim at the hands of their fellow countrymen." 

Please remember and honour Andrew Inglis Clark by giving the electorate of Denison the new name of Inglis Clark.