The division is named in honour of Dame Jean Macnamara, a doctor and medical researcher who specialised in the polio virus and was involved in children's health initiatives.

However, Labor's hold on the seat became increasingly tenuous after a 1990 redistribution added some wealthier territory around Caulfield.

Further analysis identified that the margin between the Labor Party and the Greens had narrowed to less than 0.3% as a result of recent boundary adjustments.

After several days of counting, Josh Burns narrowly won the seat, securing Labor a majority in the House of Representatives.

[6] The incumbent MP, Josh Burns, is himself the grandson of Jewish migrants who left Europe and settled in Melbourne in search of a safe place to raise their families.