Electoral district of Belmont

Infobox Australian Electorate
name = Belmont
state = wa


caption =
lifespan = 1989–present
mp = Eric Ripper
mp-party = Labor
namesake = Belmont
area = 56.9
class = East Metropolitan

The Electoral district of Belmont is a Legislative Assembly electorate in the state of Western Australia. Belmont is named for the inner eastern Perth suburb of Belmont which falls within its borders. Belmont is considered to be a safe seat for the Australian Labor Party, and in its present incarnation has only had one member, the Deputy Premier and Treasurer Eric Ripper.

History

Belmont was initially within the vast electorate of Canning. In 1911, just 50 people voted at the Belmont and Welshpool Road booths, and by 1950, this had grown to 410 at Belmont, 685 at Welshpool and 692 at Queens Park. However, the area grew rapidly following the Second World War as industry developed at Belmont, Kewdale and Forrestfield, and Housing Commission areas were built to support them. At the 1955 redistribution, the new electorate of Beeloo was created—the only district to be so created. [Gazette WA | title = Electoral Districts Act 1947 - Order in Council | page = 1955:1999-2009 | date = 22 August 1955] The previous member for Canning, Labor member Colin Jamieson who was first elected in 1953, secured the seat at the 1956 election.

At the 1962 election, Beeloo moved further south into Cannington and Queens Park, whilst a new seat of Belmont was created with boundaries not dissimilar to the present seat. [Gazette WA | title = Electoral Districts Act 1947-1955 - Order in Council | page = 1961:3651-3702 | date = 14 December 1961] It was represented by former Speaker James Hegney until 1968.

At the redistribution taking effect from the 1968 election, Beeloo was abolished, and a new seat of Ascot was created north and south of the Swan River. Belmont shifted southwards and was won by Jamieson at the election. When the electorate lost the suburb of Belmont to Ascot in the distribution prior to the 1974 election, the electorate was renamed Welshpool. [Gazette WA | title = Electoral Districts Act 1947-1965 - Order in Council | page = 1966:1977-2033 | date = 21 July 1966
* Gazette WA | title = Electoral Districts Act 1947-1965 - Order in Council | page = 1972:1833-1893 | date = 14 June 1972] Ascot, initially represented by John Toms until his untimely death while presiding as Speaker on 8 October 1971, was then won by schoolteacher Mal Bryce who went on to become Deputy Premier to Brian Burke from 1983 to 1988. At the by-election held to replace him on 17 February 1988, schoolteacher and union organiser Eric Ripper was successful.

At the 1988 redistribution, both Welshpool and Ascot were abolished, and Belmont was recreated, with Ripper transferring into the seat.

Geography

Belmont is bounded by the Swan River to the northwest, the Helena River to the north, the freight railway to the east, Welshpool Road to the south and Orrong Road to the southwest. Its boundaries include the suburbs of Ascot, Belmont, Cloverdale, Kewdale, Redcliffe, Rivervale, South Guildford and Welshpool, as well as Perth Airport. [cite web|url=http://www.boundarieswa.com/2007/Final-Boundaries/East-Metropolitan/Belmont/|title=2007 Electoral Distribution - Final Boundaries - East Metropolitan - Belmont|author=Western Australian Electoral Commission|date=29 October 2007|accessdate=2008-08-05]

The 2007 redistribution, which took effect at the 2008 election, only removed a section of High Wycombe which had been added in 2005. [cite web|url=http://www.boundarieswa.com/2003/Boundaries/--East-Metropolitan/Belmont/|title=2003 Electoral Distribution - Final Boundaries - East Metropolitan - Belmont|author=Western Australian Electoral Commission|date=4 August 2003|accessdate=2008-08-05]

Members for Belmont

Results

Election box begin
title=Western Australian state election, 2008: Belmontref label|1|1|1Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Eric Ripper
party = Labor
votes = 7,650
percentage = 43.54
change = -10.6

Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Edward Richards
party = Liberal
votes = 5,953
percentage = 33.88
change = +2.9

Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Louise Judge
party = Greens WA
votes = 2,143
percentage = 12.20
change = +4.5

Election box candidate AU party
candidate = John Yarrow
party = Family First
votes = 677
percentage = 3.85
change = +3.85

Election box candidate AU party
candidate = John Gleeson
party = Independent
votes = 603
percentage = 3.43
change = +3.43

Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Tasman Gilbert
party = Christian Democrats
votes = 543
percentage = 3.09
change = -1.0

Election box formal
votes = 17,569
percentage = 92.99
change =

Election box informal
votes = 1,325
percentage = 7.01
change =

Election box turnout
votes = 18,894
percentage = 85.46
change =

Election box candidate AU party
party = Labor
candidate = Eric Ripper
votes = 9,962
percentage = 56.74
change = -5.0

Election box candidate AU party
party = Liberal
candidate = Edward Richards
votes = 7,596
percentage = 43.26
change = +5.0

Election box hold AU party
winner = Labor
swing = -5.0

:note label|1|1|1 The 2007 redistribution resulted in a notional Labor majority of 11.7%. Therefore, the swings presented are based on the ABC's calculation of redistributed results, rather than the actual results at the 2005 election.

Election box begin
title=State Election 2005: BelmontElection box candidate AU party
candidate = Eric Ripper
party = Labor
votes = 12,162
percentage = 52.94
change = +1.13

Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Glenys Godfrey
party = Liberal
votes = 7,231
percentage = 31.47
change = +7.03

Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Steve Wolff
party = Greens WA
votes = 1,835
percentage = 7.99
change = +2.28

Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Gwen Hamence
party = Christian Democrats
votes = 975
percentage = 4.24
change = +1.17

Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Bill Gaugg
party = One Nation
votes = 772
percentage = 3.36
change = –7.47

Election box formal
votes = 22,975
percentage = 94.49
change = +0.42

Election box informal
votes = 1,341
percentage = 5.51
change = –0.42

Election box turnout
votes = 24,316
percentage = 90.13
change = –0.71

Election box candidate AU party
party = Labor
candidate = Eric Ripper
votes = 13,952
percentage = 60.81
change = –3.91

Election box candidate AU party
party = Liberal
candidate = Glenys Godfrey
votes = 8,992
percentage = 39.19
change = +3.91

Election box hold AU party
winner = Labor
swing = –3.91

References

External links

* [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/wa/2005/guide/belm.htm Electorate Profile] (Antony Green, ABC)