Division of Melbourne Ports

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Melbourne Ports Australian House of Representatives Division

Created:	1901
State or territory:	Victoria
MP:	Michael Danby
Party:	Labor
Namesake:	Melbourne Ports
Electors:	95,935
Area:	44 km²
Demographic:	Inner Metropolitan

The Division of Melbourne Ports is an Australian federal electoral division in the inner south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

The electorate was created in 1900 at the time of Australian Federation (see History of Australia), and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for the fact that at the time of its creation it was centred on Port Melbourne and Williamstown, both major ports.

The electorate, traditionally working class, is much more demographically diverse on its current boundaries. It still includes Port Melbourne, but now also includes the alternative lifestyle suburb of St Kilda, and middle class Caulfield, the home of Australia's largest Jewish community. According to 2006 census, this electorate has 18.8% Catholic, 12.7% Jewish, 10.8% Anglican, 11.7% other Christian, 5.9% other Religion, 23.2% no Religion and 16.9 not stated. It also has a large gay and lesbian community.

Melbourne Ports has been held by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) since 1906. Since its extension eastwards to Caulfield, however, it has become much less secure for Labor, and is now a marginal seat.

	Party	Term
Samuel Mauger	Protectionist	1901—1906
James Mathews	Labor	1906—1931
Ted Holloway	Labor	1931—1951
Frank Crean	Labor	1951—1977
Clyde Holding	Labor	1977—1998
Michael Danby	Labor	1998—present

Australian federal election, 2007: Melbourne Ports
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Michael Danby	36,556	42.47	+3.22
	Liberal	Adam Held	34,154	39.68	-3.26
	Greens	Phillip Walker	12,941	15.03	+0.93
	Democrats	John Mathieson	1,527	1.77	+0.42
	Family First	Rebecca Gebbing	731	0.85	+0.31
	Citizens Electoral Council	Aaron Isherwood	172	0.20	+0.02
Total formal votes			86,081	97.84	+1.24
Informal votes			1,903	2.16	-1.24
Turnout			87,984	91.71	+0.58
2-Candidate Preferred Result
	Labor	Michael Danby	49,191	57.15	+3.41
	Liberal	Adam Held	36,890	42.85	-3.41
	Labor hold		Swing	+3.41

Australian federal election, 2004: Melbourne Ports
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	David Southwick	35,058	42.94	+3.23
	Labor	Michael Danby	32,046	39.25	-0.11
	Greens	Jo Lewis	11,508	14.10	+2.82
	Democrats	Craig Beale	1,102	1.35	-7.92
	Independent	Les Cameron	958	1.17	+1.17
	Family First	Graeme Jackel	444	0.54	+0.54
	Independent	Leonie Horin	374	0.46	+0.46
	Citizens Electoral Council	Aaron Isherwood	146	0.18	-0.21
Total formal votes			81,636	96.60	-0.14
Informal votes			2,875	3.40	+0.14
Turnout			84,511	91.13	-1.79
2-Candidate Preferred Result
	Labor	Michael Danby	43,873	53.74	-1.95
	Liberal	David Southwick	37,763	46.36	+1.95
	Labor hold		Swing	-1.95