Division of Stirling
Encyclopedia
The Division of Stirling is an Australian Electoral Division in the inner northern and beachside suburbs of Perth
, Western Australia
. It includes the suburbs of Balcatta, Balga, Carine, Innaloo, Nollamara, North Beach, Scarborough, Stirling, Trigg and Yokine.
The electorate was created in a 1955 redistribution, and was named after Sir James Stirling
, the 19th-century founding lieutenant governor and governor of Western Australia. Stirling covers a demographically diverse area, including several affluent beachside suburbs, as well as some poorer areas further inland. As a result, Stirling has often been a marginal seat, swinging between the Australian Labor Party
and the Liberal Party of Australia
.
Unlike some marginal seats on the east coast, such as Eden-Monaro
, Stirling has not often been seen as a barometer for winning government, as although probably a result of coincidence, its members have more often than not been in opposition.
Opinion polls in the leadup to the 2004 election had suggested a close result in Stirling, leaning towards the possibility of sitting Labor member Jann McFarlane
retaining her seat. This had been thought to be more likely after Paul Afkos
, the original Liberal candidate, was forced to resign after he was revealed to have borrowed money from a convicted drug dealer. A local businessman, Michael Keenan
was brought in as his replacement, and maintained the close difference in polling. However, on election day, the swing to the Liberal Party statewide and nationwide was stronger than expected, and Keenan was ultimately successful in unseating McFarlane. The Stirling Times, a local newspaper, speculated in October 2006 that McFarlane, at that time a Stirling councillor, might contest the seat again in 2007. On 28 November 2006 former SAS officer and outspoken opponent of the Iraq War Peter Tinley
accepted an offer from Kim Beazley
to run as the ALP candidate in the 2007 election.http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20836250-2702,00.html Ahead of the 2010 election, Labor preselected Louise Durack, a social worker and executive director of People With Disabilities (WA) and past candidate for the state seat of Ocean Reef
, to run for the seat. Michael Keenan was re-elected at the 2010 Federal Election.
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. It includes the suburbs of Balcatta, Balga, Carine, Innaloo, Nollamara, North Beach, Scarborough, Stirling, Trigg and Yokine.
The electorate was created in a 1955 redistribution, and was named after Sir James Stirling
James Stirling (Australian governor)
Admiral Sir James Stirling RN was a British naval officer and colonial administrator. His enthusiasm and persistence persuaded the British Government to establish the Swan River Colony and he became the first Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Western Australia...
, the 19th-century founding lieutenant governor and governor of Western Australia. Stirling covers a demographically diverse area, including several affluent beachside suburbs, as well as some poorer areas further inland. As a result, Stirling has often been a marginal seat, swinging between the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
and the Liberal Party of Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
.
Unlike some marginal seats on the east coast, such as Eden-Monaro
Division of Eden-Monaro
The Division of Eden-Monaro is anAustralian Electoral Division in New South Wales.The division was created in 1900, and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for the town of Eden and the Monaro district of southern New South Wales...
, Stirling has not often been seen as a barometer for winning government, as although probably a result of coincidence, its members have more often than not been in opposition.
Opinion polls in the leadup to the 2004 election had suggested a close result in Stirling, leaning towards the possibility of sitting Labor member Jann McFarlane
Jann McFarlane
Jann Sonya McFarlane , Australian politician, was an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives from October 1998 to October 2004, representing the Division of Stirling, Western Australia. She was born in Sydney, New South Wales, and was educated at Macquarie...
retaining her seat. This had been thought to be more likely after Paul Afkos
Paul Afkos
Paul Afkos OAM is an Australian businessman, former football administrator and political aspirant. He is father of former footballer James Afkos.- Perth Glory :...
, the original Liberal candidate, was forced to resign after he was revealed to have borrowed money from a convicted drug dealer. A local businessman, Michael Keenan
Michael Keenan
Michael Fayat Keenan , Australian politician, was elected to the House of Representatives as member for the Division of Stirling, Western Australia for the Liberal Party of Australia at the 2004 federal election. He was educated at Murdoch University, Perth, the Australian National University, and...
was brought in as his replacement, and maintained the close difference in polling. However, on election day, the swing to the Liberal Party statewide and nationwide was stronger than expected, and Keenan was ultimately successful in unseating McFarlane. The Stirling Times, a local newspaper, speculated in October 2006 that McFarlane, at that time a Stirling councillor, might contest the seat again in 2007. On 28 November 2006 former SAS officer and outspoken opponent of the Iraq War Peter Tinley
Peter Tinley
Peter Tinley AM is an Australian soldier and politician. He has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly since November 2009, representing the electorate of Willagee....
accepted an offer from Kim Beazley
Kim Beazley
In the October 1998 election, Labor polled a majority of the two-party vote and received the largest swing to a first-term opposition since 1934. However, due to the uneven nature of the swing, Labor came up eight seats short of making Beazley Prime Minister....
to run as the ALP candidate in the 2007 election.http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20836250-2702,00.html Ahead of the 2010 election, Labor preselected Louise Durack, a social worker and executive director of People With Disabilities (WA) and past candidate for the state seat of Ocean Reef
Electoral district of Ocean Reef
The Electoral district of Ocean Reef is a Legislative Assembly electorate in the state of Western Australia. The district is named for the outer northern Perth suburb of Ocean Reef which falls within its borders.-History:...
, to run for the seat. Michael Keenan was re-elected at the 2010 Federal Election.
Members
| Member | Party | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Webb Harry Webb (Australian politician) Charles Harry Webb was an Australian politician. Born in England, he migrated to Australia in 1913 and was educated at state schools, after which he became a locomotive engineman... |
Labor Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia... |
1955 Australian federal election, 1955 Federal elections were held in Australia on 10 December 1955. All 122 seats in the House of Representatives, and 30 of the 60 seats in the Senate were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Party of Australia led by Prime Minister of Australia Robert Menzies with coalition partner the Country Party... –1958 |
|
| Doug Cash | Liberal Liberal Party of Australia The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office... |
1958 Australian federal election, 1958 Federal elections were held in Australia on 22 November 1958. All 122 seats in the House of Representatives, and 32 of the 60 seats in the Senate were up for election... –1961 |
|
| Harry Webb Harry Webb (Australian politician) Charles Harry Webb was an Australian politician. Born in England, he migrated to Australia in 1913 and was educated at state schools, after which he became a locomotive engineman... |
Labor Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia... |
1961 Australian federal election, 1961 Federal elections were held in Australia on 9 December 1961. All 122 seats in the House of Representatives, and 31 of the 60 seats in the Senate were up for election... –1972 |
|
| Ian Viner Ian Viner Robert Ian Viner AO is an Australian former politician. He was the Liberal Party of Australia member for the House of Representatives seat of Stirling from 1972 until his defeat by Ron Edwards in the 1983 election... |
Liberal Liberal Party of Australia The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office... |
1972 Australian federal election, 1972 Federal elections were held in Australia on 2 December 1972. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election. The Liberal Party of Australia had been in power since 1949, under Prime Minister of Australia William McMahon since March 1971 with coalition partner the Country Party... –1983 |
|
| Ron Edwards Ron Edwards (Australian politician) Ronald Frederick "Ron" Edwards is a retired Australian politician. Born in Perth, Western Australia, he was educated at the University of Western Australia and the University of Sydney, after which he became a lecturer in economics and industrial relations... |
Labor Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia... |
1983 Australian federal election, 1983 Federal elections were held in Australia on 5 March 1983. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives, and all 64 seats in the Senate, were up for election, following a double dissolution... –1993 |
|
| Eoin Cameron Eoin Cameron Eoin Harrap Cameron is a popular radio personality in Perth, Western Australia. He currently works the ABC's Perth local station 720 ABC Perth breakfast show, regularly receiving top ratings for the most popular breakfast radio show.... |
Liberal Liberal Party of Australia The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office... |
1993–1998 | |
| Jann McFarlane Jann McFarlane Jann Sonya McFarlane , Australian politician, was an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives from October 1998 to October 2004, representing the Division of Stirling, Western Australia. She was born in Sydney, New South Wales, and was educated at Macquarie... |
Labor Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia... |
1998–2004 | |
| Michael Keenan Michael Keenan Michael Fayat Keenan , Australian politician, was elected to the House of Representatives as member for the Division of Stirling, Western Australia for the Liberal Party of Australia at the 2004 federal election. He was educated at Murdoch University, Perth, the Australian National University, and... |
Liberal Liberal Party of Australia The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office... |
2004–present | |