- Division of Paterson
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This article is about the Australian federal electorate. For the Tasmanian state electorate, see Electoral division of Paterson.
Paterson
Australian House of Representatives Division
Division of Paterson (green) within New South WalesCreated: 1993 MP: Bob Baldwin Party: Liberal Namesake: Banjo Paterson Area: 6,652 km² (2,568 sq mi) Demographic: Rural The Division of Paterson is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It is located just north of Newcastle, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. It extends to the Hunter Valley in the south, the Manning River in the north, and the Great Dividing Range in the west. It includes the towns of Forster, Nelson Bay, Raymond Terrace and Paterson.
Paterson was originally created in 1949 and abolished in 1984. It was recreated after a redistribution in 1992.
The current Division is named after federation-era poet and author Banjo Paterson.
Contents
History
Paterson was first created at the redistribution of 11 May 1949. It was named after federation-era poet and author Banjo Paterson although there is conjecture that it was originally named after Colonel William Paterson who also gave his name to the Paterson River and the town of Paterson, both of which were situated within the electorate.[1] It was first contested at the 1949 election. At the time it included the towns of Singleton, Maitland and Muswellbrook. Redistributions eventually moved the electorate north until it included Gunnedah and Mudgee. The original electorate was abolished at the 11 October 1984 redistribution.
At the redistribution of 31 January 1992 the electorate was recreated, covering a similar area to the original electorate. It was first contested at the 1993 Federal election and was narrowly won by Bob Horne (Labor). After 1993 the seat was continuously exchanged between Horne and Bob Baldwin (Liberal); the seat changed hands in 1996, in 1998 and again in 2001. During this period both Bobs became so well known that name recognition in the Division was often in excess of 90% in private party polling.
Horne did not contest the seat at the 2004 election at which Baldwin comfortably defeated a new Labor candidate, former Port Stephens councillor Giovanna Kozary, to retain the seat for the first time. At the 2007 election, Baldwin narrowly defeated new Labor candidate Jim Arneman, a Health Services Union organiser.[2] At the 2010 election, Baldwin again defeated Arneman, this time retaining the seat for the Liberal Party with an absolute majority of primary votes.
Paterson is currently regarded as a marginal Liberal seat.
Members
First incarnation (1949–1984) Member Party Term Allen Fairhall Liberal 1949–1969 Frank O'Keefe Country 1969–1975 National Country 1975–1982 National 1982–1984 Second incarnation (1993–present) Member Party Term Bob Horne Labor 1993–1996 Bob Baldwin Liberal 1996–1998 Bob Horne Labor 1998–2001 Bob Baldwin Liberal 2001–present Election results
Main article: Electoral results for the Division of PatersonAustralian federal election, 2010: Paterson Party Candidate Votes % ±% Liberal Bob Baldwin 42,262 51.30 +4.73 Labor Jim Arneman 31,522 38.26 -4.69 Greens Jan Davis 4,936 5.99 +0.72 One Nation Kevin Leayr 1,044 1.27 +0.32 Christian Democrats Anna Balfour 870 1.06 -0.15 Independent Josef Wiedenhorn 699 0.85 +0.85 Family First Veronica Lambert 674 0.82 +0.16 Paul Hennelly 379 0.46 +0.46 Total formal votes 82,386 94.36 -2.04 Informal votes 4,924 5.64 +2.04 Turnout 87,310 94.75 -0.98 Two-candidate preferred result Liberal Bob Baldwin 45,582 55.33 +4.75 Labor Jim Arneman 36,804 44.67 -4.75 Liberal hold Swing +4.75 References
Categories:- Electoral divisions of Australia
- Port Stephens Council
- Great Lakes Council
- Hunter Region, New South Wales
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