- Charles Bean was the official war correspondent in World War One.
- The ACT is gaining a third federal electorate due to population growth.
- Just 15 federal electorates are named after women, 92 are named after men.
- The AEC process will be finalised in July.
More than 70 people have lodged objections to the proposed redistribution of the ACT’s federal electorates, with almost all submissions opposing naming the new electorate Bean.
Labor MP Mike Kelly was among those who objected to an electorate being named after Charles Bean, referring to his efforts to prevent the promotion of Sir John Monash in the Australian army.
“While contributing greatly to the preservation of our national story Bean had a clear record of racism throughout his life and most particularly was stridently anti-semitic,” Dr Kelly wrote.
“This anti-semitism played out most notably through the enormous amount of energy he committed to attempting to prevent Sir John Monash from becoming the commander of Australian forces on the Western Front in World War One and to having Monash removed when he was so appointed.”
Dr Kelly told Fairfax Media that it was a personal submission and not necessarily the view of the Labor party. The Labor party did not make a submission, while the Canberra Liberals objected to the proposed boundaries dividing the three electorates.
Read the article by Sally Whyte in The Sydney Morning Herald.