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Melbourne Electorate Renamed after Indigenous Champion of the Jews

Good news, as the name of an electorate in Melbourne Australia has been renamed “Cooper”, after William Cooper, a spokesman for Aboriginal people who lodged a personal protest against the treatment of European Jews in Nazi Germany following Kristallnacht.

The Australian Electoral Commission has bowed to pressure over two electorate names in Victoria, a move labelled a victory for “common sense” by indigenous leader Warren Mundine.

The name of the Melbourne electorate of Batman has been changed to Cooper in commemoration of indigenous rights activist William Cooper.

The decision by the AEC means the name of John Batman, one of the founding settlers of Melbourne, has been dumped as representing the inner Melbourne electorate, which is held by new Labor MP Ged Kearney.

Mr Mundine also said the Cooper decision was “common sense” due to its namesake’s record as a civil rights champion.

“I was so pleased to hear William Cooper was finally being honoured. He’s an internationally renowned hero. It was the right decision and again, it’s just common sense.”

Batman’s Labor MP Ged Kearney supported a name change. “Absolutely thrilled that I will now be the Member for Cooper! You can read about the incredible life of William Cooper, who spent his life working to improve the rights of Australia’s First Nations peoples,” Ms Kearney tweeted.

I have posted about William Cooper before.

Although I do like the idea of an electorate called Batman. Perhaps this is a good name for a neighborhood in Jerusalem?

About the author

Picture of David Lange

David Lange

A law school graduate, David Lange transitioned from work in the oil and hi-tech industries into fulltime Israel advocacy. He is a respected commentator and Middle East analyst who has often been cited by the mainstream media
Picture of David Lange

David Lange

A law school graduate, David Lange transitioned from work in the oil and hi-tech industries into fulltime Israel advocacy. He is a respected commentator and Middle East analyst who has often been cited by the mainstream media
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