Candidates of the Australian federal election, 2007

This article provides details on candidates that stood at the 2007 Australian federal election.

Nominations were formally declared open by the Australian Electoral Commission following the issue of the writ on Wednesday, 17 October 2007. Nominations closed at 12 noon Thursday, 1 November 2007. The received nominations were declared public after 12 noon Friday 2 November 2007.

The election itself was held on Saturday 24 November 2007.

Retiring Members and Senators

The following Members of the House of Representatives (denoted "MP") and Senators will not be seeking another term at the next election.

Labor

* Kim Beazley MP (Brand, WA): announced retirement after losing the Labor Party leadership in December 2006. cite news | title=Beazley won't contest federal election | date=13 December 2006 | publisher=AAP | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Beazley-wont-contest-federal-election/2006/12/13/1165685746074.html]
* Ann Corcoran MP (Isaacs, Vic): lost preselection in March 2006. cite news | title=Two more fall in faction battles | date=10 March 2006 | publisher=AAP | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/two-more-fall-in-faction-battles/2006/03/10/1141701659360.html?page=fullpage]
* Graham Edwards MP (Cowan, WA): announced retirement in January 2006. cite news | author=Media Statement | title=Graham Edwards | publisher=Australian Labor Party | date=25 January 2006 | url=http://www.alp.org.au/media/0106/msloo260.php]
* Michael Hatton MP (Blaxland, NSW): lost preselection in May 2007. cite news | title=Labor Party announces NSW federal candidates | date=5 May 2007 | publisher=ABC | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200705/s1915232.htm]
* Kelly Hoare MP (Charlton, NSW): lost preselection in May 2007.
* Carmen Lawrence MP (Fremantle, WA): announced retirement March 2007. cite news | title=Carmen Lawrence set to quit parliament | date=29 March 2007 | publisher=AAP | url=http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=145&ContentID=24778]
* Rod Sawford MP (Port Adelaide, SA): announced retirement in August 2006. cite news | title=Backbencher Sawford announces retirement | publisher=ABC | date=14 August 2006 | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/items/200608/1714614.htm]
* Bob Sercombe MP (Maribyrnong, Vic): announced retirement in February 2006, facing likely preselection defeat. cite news | title=MP quits over Labor preselection battle | publisher=ABC | date=28 February 2006 | url=http://abc.net.au/news/items/200602/1580079.htm]
* Senator George Campbell (NSW): announced retirement in April 2007, facing likely preselection defeat. cite news | last=Coorey | first=Phillip | title=Wounded senator falls to protege | date=26 April 2007 | publisher=Sydney Morning Herald | url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/wounded-senator-falls-to-protege/2007/04/25/1177459788218.html]
* Senator Linda Kirk (SA): lost preselection in June 2007. cite news | last=Kenny | first=Mark | title=Dumped senator falls to faction | date=8 June 2007 | publisher=The Advertiser | url=http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21868725-5006301,00.html]
* Senator Robert Ray (Vic): did not renominate. cite news | last=Landeryou | first=Andrew | title=NOMINATIONS: Who Nominated And Where in ALP Preselections | date=14 February 2006 | publisher=The Other Cheek | url=http://andrewlanderyou.blogspot.com/2006/02/nominations-who-nominated-and-where-in.html ]

Liberal

* Bruce Baird MP (Cook, NSW): announced retirement in April 2007. cite news | last=Coorey | first=Phillip | title=Baird bows out as challenge looms in seat | publisher=Sydney Morning Herald | date=16 April 2007 | url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/baird-bows-out-as-challenge-looms-in-seat/2007/04/15/1176575687704.html]
* Alan Cadman MP (Mitchell, NSW): withdrew candidacy in June 2007, facing likely preselection defeat. cite news | author=Walsh, Kerry-Anne and Gilmore, Heath | title=Hawke ruffles Liberal feathers with upset win | date=17 June 2007 | publisher=The Sun-Herald | url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/hawke-ruffles-liberal-feathers-with-upset-win/2007/06/17/1181414620978.html]
* Trish Draper MP (Makin, SA): announced retirement in July 2006. cite news | title=Federal MP Draper to quit politics | publisher=ABC | date=27 July 2006 | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200607/s1698337.htm ]
* Kay Elson MP (Forde, Qld): announced retirement in October 2006. cite news | last=Coorey | first=Phillip | title=Happy National breaks the mould | date=26 October 2006 | publisher=Sydney Morning Herald | url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/happy-national-breaks-the-mould/2006/10/25/1161749190650.html]
* Warren Entsch MP (Leichhardt, Qld): announced retirement in January 2006. cite news | title=Entsch happy with ministry shake-up | publisher=ABC | date=25 January 2006 | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200601/s1554970.htm]
* David Jull MP (Fadden, Qld): announced retirement in January 2007. cite news | title=Politics a bugger of a life, says MP | date=25 May 2007 | publisher=The Australian | url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21792234-1702,00.html]
* Jackie Kelly MP (Lindsay, NSW): announced retirement in May 2007. cite news | title=PM thanks Jackie Kelly for contribution | date=25 May 2007 | publisher=ABC | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200705/s1933661.htm]
* Geoff Prosser MP (Forrest, WA): announced retirement in June 2006. cite news | title=Liberals says strong interest shown in Forrest | publisher=ABC | date=22 June 2006 | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/australia/wa/summer/200606/s1669220.htm]
* Barry Wakelin MP (Grey, SA): announced retirement in August 2006. cite news | title=Rural MP to bow out at next election | publisher=ABC | date=3 August 2006 | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200508/s1429086.htm ]
* Senator Rod Kemp (Vic): announced retirement in May 2006. cite news | title=Kemp to leave Parliament | date=12 May 2006 | publisher=ABC | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200605/s1637411.htm]
* Senator Ross Lightfoot (WA): announced retirement in April 2007, facing likely preselection defeat. cite news | title=Ross Lightfoot quits politics | date=28 April 2007 | publisher=AAP | url=http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,21635849-2761,00.html]
* Senator Kay Patterson (Vic): announced retirement in January 2006. cite news | title=Patterson quits Cabinet, Macdonald sacked | date=22 January 2006 | publisher=ABC | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200601/s1552474.htm]
* Senator John Watson (Tas): lost preselection in May 2007. cite news | title=Watson dumped from Liberal Party senate ticket | date=12 May 2007 | publisher=ABC | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200705/s1921391.htm]

National

* John Anderson MP (Gwydir, NSW): saw out his term after stepping down as National Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister in June 2005. ABC | date=9 August 2005 | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200508/s1433595.htm]
* Ian Causley MP (Page, NSW): announced retirement in October 2006. cite news | title=Causley announces political retirement | publisher=ABC | date=19 October 2006 | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200610/s1768802.htm]
* Senator Sandy Macdonald (NSW): announced retirement in October 2006 after losing preselection for second spot on the Coalition Senate ticket. cite news | last=Franklin | first=Matthew | title=Veteran replaced by 'new Barnaby' | publisher=The Australian | date=6 October 2006 | url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20533219-601,00.html]

Democrats

* Senator Andrew Murray (WA): announced retirement in July 2006. cite news | title=Democrats Senator Murray to quit | publisher=ABC | date=5 July 2006 | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200607/s1678873.htm]
* Senator Natasha Stott Despoja (SA): announced retirement in October 2006. cite news | title=Stott Despoja set to quit | publisher=AAP | date=22 October 2006 | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/stott-despoja-set-to-quit/2006/10/22/1161455598770.html ]

Independent

* Peter Andren MP (Calare, NSW): In March 2007, Andren declared his intention to retire from his House of Representatives seat and run for a NSW Senate seat. cite news | title=Andren to run for Senate 'to restore balance' | date=29 March 2007 | publisher=ABC | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/03/29/1884831.htm] Subsequently, Andren was diagnosed with cancer and in August 2007 he announced his retirement from politics altogether. cite news | author=Andren, Peter MP | title=Statement from Peter Andren, Federal Member for Calare (PDF) | publisher=peterandren.com | date=10 August 2007 | url=http://peterandren.com/pdf/Press%20Release/2007/Press20070810.pdf] Andren died on 3 November 2007. cite news | title=Andren, dead at 61, 'of rare integrity' | publisher=AAP | date=3 November 2007 | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Andren-dead-at-61-of-rare-integrity/2007/11/03/1193619183762.html]
* Harry Quick MP (Franklin, Tas): announced retirement in August 2005 (he was expelled from the ALP in August 2007 and sat for the remainder of his term as an Independent). cite news | title=Quick exits over Beazley's election chances | date=12 August 2005 | publisher=ABC | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200508/s1436635.htm]

House of Representatives

Sitting members are in bold.

Australian Capital Territory

Queensland

Victoria

New South Wales

Six Senate places were up for election. The Labor Party was defending two seats. The Liberal-National Coalition was defending three seats. The Australian Greens were defending one seat.

outh Australia

Six Senate places were up for election. The Labor Party was defending two seats. The Liberal Party was defending three seats. The Australian Democrats were defending one seat.

Western Australia

Six Senate places were up for election. The Labor Party was defending two seats. The Liberal Party was defending three seats. The Australian Democrats were defending one seat.

Former Candidates

The following candidates had been preselected by their party but subsequently withdrew or were replaced.

Labor

* Jennifer Algie: original preselected candidate for the newly created seat of Flynn (Qld). Algie withdrew in February 2007. cite news | last=Marx | first=Anthony | title=Labor candidate withdraws | publisher=The Courier Mail | date=6 February 2007 | url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21183892-952,00.html]
* John Fitzroy: original preselected candidate for National held Cowper (NSW). Labor re-opened nominations for the seat in September 2007 to choose a superior candidate, after polling showed the seat more winnable than previously thought. cite news | last=Doherty | first=Ben | title=Confident ALP dumps candidate | publisher=The Age | date=21 September 2007 | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/confident-alp-dumps-candidate/2007/09/20/1189881684485.html]
* Shane Guley: original preselected candidate for National held Maranoa (Qld). Guley withdrew in October 2007 after allegations of assault and intimidation became public. cite news | title=ALP candidate stands down | publisher=AAP | date=20 October 2007 | url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22622110-5005961,00.html]
* Kevin Harkins: original preselected candidate for Labor held Franklin (Tas). Harkins withdrew in August 2007, facing charges of illegal strike action. cite news | title=Tasmanian Labor candidate Harkins quits | date=9 August 2007 | publisher=AAP | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Tasmanian-Labor-candidate-Harkins-quits/2007/08/09/1186530485874.html]
* Greg Pargeter: original preselected candidate for Liberal held La Trobe (Vic). Pargeter was dropped to make way for another candidate in August 2007. cite news | last=Coorey | first=Philip | title=War hero wins ALP preselection | date=11 August 2007 | publisher=Sydney Morning Herald | url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/war-hero-wins-alp-preselection/2007/08/10/1186530603759.html]
* Steve Reissig: original preselected candidate for Liberal held Bass (Tas). Reissig withdrew in October 2006. cite news | last=Stedman | first=Michael | title=Reissig quits Bass run | date=25 October 2006 | publisher=The Examiner | url=http://www.examiner.com.au/story.asp?id=367472]
* Bruce Simmonds: original preselected candidate for Liberal held McPherson (Qld). Simmonds withdrew in February 2007 after his company was accused of "acting dishonestly".

Liberal

* Ken Aldred: original preselected candidate for Labor held Holt (Vic). Aldred, a former federal Liberal MP from 1975 to 1980 and 1983 to 1996, won the branch-level ballot to be the party's nominee. However, Aldred's preselection proved to be controversial due to his past history of using parliamentary privilege to air spurious allegations against prominent community figures. His preselection was not ratified by Administrative Committee of the Liberal Party in Victoria. cite news | title=Aldred's preselection bid fails | publisher=ABC | date=22 March 2007 | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1879266.htm]
* Mathew Brown: original preselected candidate for Liberal held Tangney (WA). Brown successfully defeated sitting Liberal MP Dennis Jensen in a branch-level vote. But in October 2006, the party's state council overturned this result and endorsed Jensen instead. cite news | title=Dumped MP re-endorsed for federal seat | date=8 October 2006 | publisher=AAP | url=http://www.thewest.com.au/aapstory.aspx?StoryName=323360] Brown was subsequently preselected for the unwinnable sixth spot on the party's Senate (WA) ticket.
* Steve Coltman: original preselected candidate for Labor held Ballarat (Vic). Coltman withdrew in February 2007. cite news | title=Ballarat Liberal candidate quits | publisher=ABC | date=2 February 2007 | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/items/200702/1838941.htm]
* Hamish Jones: original preselected candidate for Labor held Maribyrnong (Vic). Jones was deselected in August 2007 following revelations he'd used his blog site to air derogatory personal attacks against several politicians. cite news | last=Miletic | first=Daniella | title=Foul-mouthed blog that undid Lib candidate | publisher=The Age | date=15 August 2007 | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/foulmouthed-blog-that-undid-lib-candidate/2007/08/14/1186857511676.html]
* Paul McLoughlin: original preselected candidate for Labor held Calwell (Vic). McLoughlin stood down in October 2007. cite news | first=Simon | last=Craig | title=EXCLUSIVE: Liberal candidate resigns | publisher=Hume Leader | date=26 October 2007 | url=http://www.humeleader.com.au/article/2007/10/26/24435_hov_news.html]
* Cam Nation: original preselected candidate for Labor held Gorton (Vic). Nation was replaced as a candidate in September 2007. cite news | last=Mesner | first=Kerri-Anne | title=ALP hits ‘contempt’ | publisher=Star News Group | date=18 September 2007 | url=http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/48603]
* Ben Quin: preselected candidate for Labor held Lyons (Tas). Quin tendered his resignation from the Liberal party because of his opposition to the controversial Tamar Valley pulp mill project in northern Tasmania. cite news | title=Liberal quits over mill | publisher=AAP | date=6 October 2007 | url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/10/06/1191091405432.html] Instead, Quin ran as an independent candidate.
* Philippa Reid: original preselected candidate for Liberal held Forrest (WA). Reid withdrew in November 2006 following revelations that she was called before an anti-corruption inquiry. cite news | last=Grattan | first=Michelle | title=Liberals' dream turns sour | publisher=The Age | date=9 November 2006 | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/liberals-dream-turns-sour/2006/11/08/1162661757276.html]
* Michael Towke: original preselected candidate for Liberal held Cook (NSW). Towke's candidacy was overturned by the NSW Liberal Party state execute following allegations of branch stacking. cite news | last=Clennell | first=Andrew | title=Libs reject Towke | date=3 August 2007 | publisher=Sydney Morning Herald | url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/libs-reject-towke/2007/08/03/1185648133938.html]

Family First

* Andrew Quah: original preselected candidate for the Labor held Prospect (NSW), then for the Labor held Parramatta (NSW). Quah was expelled from the party after nude photos of himself appeared on gay websites around Australia. Quah claimed the photos were composites digitally altered in Photoshop.cite web | url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/federalelection2007news/family-firsts-member-for-nowhere/2007/10/28/1193555533377.html | title=Meet Family First's member for nowhere | publisher="The Sydney Morning Herald" | date=2004-10-29 | accessdate=2007-10-29]
* Renee Sciberras: preselected candidate for the Labor held Prospect. She was deselected as the candidate after revealing photographs posted on her Facebook page were leaked to the media.cite web | url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/federalelection2007news/dirty-dancing-party-ends/2007/10/31/1193618974894.html | title=Dirty dancing party ends | publisher="The Sydney Morning Herald" | date=2007-11-01 | accessdate=2007-11-02]

References

External links

* [http://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/federal_elections/2007/candidates/index.htm 2007 Federal Election - Candidates details]

ee also

* Australian federal election, 2007
* Members of the Australian House of Representatives, 2004-2007
* Members of the Australian Senate, 2005-2008
* List of political parties in Australia