Reinstate the Name 'Fraser Island

To the Honourable President and Members of the Senate in Parliament Assembled:

We, the undersigned, appeal to the Australian Senate to take all actions available to overturn the recent decision to officially rename Fraser Island to K'gari.


We firmly believe that there is a need to preserve the historical significance of the name 'Fraser Island' as it stands as a testimony to Australia's rich and multifaceted past. Fraser Island has a rich history and is an important destination, home, recreational area, and natural wonder that is equally enjoyed by all Australians and visitors to our land.

Locals of the Fraser Coast, Queensland, or Australians broadly were not consulted over the name change, contrary to government policy.  It always was, always will be Fraser Island.

Our reasons are as follows:

Historical Continuity: Fraser Island has been known to the global community for almost 200 years by this name. This identity is deeply ingrained not only in maps and literature but also in the minds of countless Australians and tourists worldwide.

Diverse History: The Island shares a history of Aboriginal people intertwined with European exploration and settlement. The story of Eliza Fraser serves as a reminder of the island's multifaceted past, representing both indigenous and European histories. To erase one is to disregard a part of the island's rich tapestry.

Educational Value: Keeping the name Fraser Island provides an opportunity for educating the public about both the Aboriginal history and the European experiences on the island. It serves as a starting point for discussions about colonialism, indigenous rights, and shared histories.

Recognition and Tourism: Fraser Island is recognised globally under its current name, attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists annually. The abrupt change of name will lead to confusion and impact the island's global appeal.

Preserving Legacy: While we acknowledge that there have been controversies associated with Eliza Fraser's tragic biography post her shipwreck torture and captivity, it's essential to preserve such histories, as a reflection of the times and the perceptions of those eras.

We urge the Senate to understand that our request is not to undermine the significance of any one group's claimed connection to the island. Instead, our plea aims to maintain a name that has become a symbol of Australia's rich, diverse, and glorious history.

By reinstating the name 'Fraser Island', we are promoting a dialogue about our past, learning from it, and paving the way for a more inclusive future.

We respectfully ask for a review of the decision and a thoughtful reconsideration of our shared heritage.

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Showing 364 reactions

  • Glenn Bell
    signed 2024-04-16 18:55:34 +1000
  • Alwyn Armstrong
    signed 2024-04-16 18:53:44 +1000
    Who the f%¥£ is gari any rate.
  • Sean Leacy
    signed 2024-04-16 06:04:22 +1000
  • M Waltke
    signed 2024-04-15 17:25:18 +1000
  • Leslie Williams
    signed 2024-04-15 16:33:42 +1000
  • Margaret Stubbs
    signed 2024-04-06 20:20:56 +1000
  • Edward King
    signed via 2024-04-06 20:08:43 +1000
  • Denis & Jennifer Bischof
    signed 2024-04-06 15:04:12 +1000
    go back to fraser island
  • Ben Goodman
    signed 2024-04-06 08:07:49 +1000
  • Angela Gugliotti
    signed 2024-04-06 07:41:36 +1000
  • Robin Halliday
    signed 2024-04-06 07:40:33 +1000
  • Yolanda Snep
    signed 2024-04-06 07:33:58 +1000
  • Luke Kelly
    signed 2024-04-06 07:33:02 +1000
  • Laurence Jones
    signed 2024-04-05 17:53:28 +1000
  • Alan Washington
    signed 2024-03-31 22:42:22 +1000
    This labor government are like dictators doing whatever they want!!!
  • Ted Mcardle
    signed 2024-03-17 02:57:44 +1000
    The history of Australia belongs to all Australians not to a handful of Aboriginals that once may have had a connection to that particular land ( island). Ask any other aboriginal with no connection, as to what they would call it. Their answer would be more than likely, Who cares.

    That also goes for the English spelling of the small group name tell them to spell it in their own language. That would be an impossible task.
  • Christopher Lock
    signed 2024-03-15 15:46:49 +1000
  • Paul Hebbard
    signed 2024-03-13 15:34:10 +1000
  • Beatrix Turner
    signed 2024-03-13 10:47:43 +1000
  • Buddy Smith
    signed 2024-03-12 09:45:22 +1000
  • Christine Marshall
    signed 2024-03-12 06:27:43 +1000
  • Jan Brown
    signed 2024-03-12 03:13:14 +1000
  • Sonia Hannequin
    signed 2024-03-11 18:01:28 +1000
  • Lindy Swanson
    signed 2024-03-11 12:53:39 +1000
  • Ken And Valda Burton
    signed 2024-03-11 12:20:55 +1000
  • jim seymour
    signed 2024-03-11 09:25:46 +1000
    If it’s so easy to change a name of a place then I propose we the people change the name of the premier Mr. Steven Miles and only ever refer to him as … let’s say Mr. Blasé Kay (meaning no matter how far he travels he just doesn’t care!). I mean to say the commonwealth Govt is intending to dehumanise each and every one of us by stealing away our dignity and acknowledging us by only recognising our digital code, assuming the digital identification and money legislation gets the go ahead in Australia. Our only hope of long term freedom is for the commonwealth to legislate the right for individuals to hold onto and be identified by our God given names as well as the right to pay with cash (no matter how much the purchase is). ‘But we need to eliminate the black market! I hear them cry!!!! Then get smarter and get your police forces onto the problem. The people will support that! We might see digital payments as convenient and they are, but with the right to hold and pay with cash at any time our freedoms will be protected. Printing cash is simply the price we pay for freedom and big business needs to swallow that reality take a spoonful of cement and harden up! Oh and let’s re name Mr. Anthony Albanese Mr. Sneaky Bill! Oh and by the way, I want Fraser Island to remain Fraser Island even though I’m of Aboriginal descent!
  • Jordayna Bettridge
    signed 2024-03-11 09:17:37 +1000
  • Luke Sleep
    signed 2024-03-10 19:24:37 +1000
  • Richard Stamp
    signed 2024-03-10 14:45:38 +1000
    I spoke for 8 hours with 1 local elder (aunty Joy) about all these sorts of things . How the name was never a thing because it used to be a part of the main land when her people past through. How the dingos were reintroduce be the white man to take control of the rabbits also introduced by the white man . The name alone is a joke Kgari with a silent k . What are you talking about aunty Joy say. White man implied silent k .
  • Gerard Phipps
    signed 2024-03-10 14:32:48 +1000