Electoral district of Mount Lawley
Encyclopedia
Mount Lawley is an electorate
in the state
of Western Australia
. Mount Lawley is named for the inner north-eastern Perth
suburb of Mount Lawley
which falls within its borders.
The seat was created at the 2007 redistribution from parts of Yokine
and Perth
, and has a long history in an earlier incarnation which existed from 1950 until 1989 as a reasonably safe Liberal Party
seat which was held for 22 years by Ray O'Connor
, who served as Premier
in 1982–1983, although is now a marginal seat. It falls within the Electoral region of East Metropolitan
.
As well as Mount Lawley, the suburbs of Yokine
, Menora
and Coolbinia
are part of the district, as are sections of Dianella
and Inglewood
. Mount Lawley is bounded by Morley Drive, The Strand, Walter Road West, Eighth Avenue, Carrington Street, Central Avenue, Swan River
foreshore, Summers Street, Lord Street, Walcott Street and Wanneroo Road
.
. At the redistribution, the neighbouring seat of North Perth
became a Labor
seat with booths from the abolished Perth
electorate, so Arthur Abbott, the Liberal member for North Perth since 1939, contested and won Mount Lawley. He was ultimately defeated in the 1956 election by the Liberal member for Maylands
, Edward Oldfield
, who had resigned from the Liberal Party to contest the election. In the 1962 election
, following another redistribution, Oldfield returned to Maylands, whilst North Perth MLA Ray O'Connor
won in Mount Lawley. He was to serve the district for 22 years, and the State as a minister in the Court
government and ultimately as Premier of Western Australia
from 25 January 1982 until 19 February 1983. He resigned his seat the following year, and George Cash
won the resulting by-election. The seat was abolished in the 1988 redistribution and divided between Maylands
, Dianella
and Perth
.
The seat was recreated in the 2007 redistribution on similar boundaries to its original incarnation. The seat of Yokine
, which covered much of the original Mount Lawley's area, was held by Liberal minister Dr Kim Hames
until the 2001 election
, when he was defeated by the Labor candidate and former Assistant Police Commissioner Bob Kucera
. After it became clear Kucera did not have Premier Alan Carpenter
's support, Kucera did not contest Labor preselection for the 2008 election
, and journalist Karen Brown won the nomination unopposed. In June 2008, Kucera resigned from the Labor Party and expressed an intention to contest either Nollamara
or Mount Lawley as an independent, though he ultimately contested neither. The 2008 state election
saw Brown defeated by Liberal candidate Michael Sutherland
.
Electoral districts of Western Australia
The Western Australian Legislative Assembly is elected from 59 single-member electoral districts. These districts are often referred to as electorates or seats....
in the state
States and territories of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a union of six states and various territories. The Australian mainland is made up of five states and three territories, with the sixth state of Tasmania being made up of islands. In addition there are six island territories, known as external territories, and a...
of 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...
. Mount Lawley is named for the inner north-eastern Perth
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....
suburb of Mount Lawley
Mount Lawley, Western Australia
Mount Lawley is an inner suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Most of the suburb lies within the Local Government Area of the City of Stirling and small portions are in the City of Vincent and City of Bayswater...
which falls within its borders.
The seat was created at the 2007 redistribution from parts of Yokine
Electoral district of Yokine
Yokine was a Legislative Assembly electorate in the state of Western Australia from 1996 to 2008. It was named for the northern Perth suburb of Yokine which fell within its borders...
and Perth
Electoral district of Perth
The Electoral district of Perth is a Legislative Assembly electorate in the state of Western Australia. Perth is named for the capital city of Western Australia whose central business district falls within its borders. It is one of the oldest electorates in Western Australia, with its first member...
, and has a long history in an earlier incarnation which existed from 1950 until 1989 as a reasonably safe Liberal Party
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...
seat which was held for 22 years by Ray O'Connor
Ray O'Connor
Raymond James "Ray" O'Connor was the 22nd Premier of Western Australia.-Pre-political life:He was born in Perth and attended schools in towns of Narrogin and York, and St Patrick's Boys' School in Perth...
, who served as Premier
Premier of Western Australia
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. The Premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions...
in 1982–1983, although is now a marginal seat. It falls within the Electoral region of East Metropolitan
Electoral region of East Metropolitan
The electoral region of East Metropolitan is a multi-member electoral region of the Western Australian Legislative Council, located in the eastern and south-eastern suburbs of Perth. It was created by the Acts Amendment Act 1987, and became effective on 22 May 1989 with five members who had been...
.
As well as Mount Lawley, the suburbs of Yokine
Yokine, Western Australia
Yokine is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stirling.-History:The name Yokine was derived from the Aboriginal word meaning native dog. The name was chosen because the area is close to Dog Swamp. Its post code is 6060.Yokine was part of the grant...
, Menora
Menora, Western Australia
See Menorah about the special lamp holy to Judaism.Menora is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stirling....
and Coolbinia
Coolbinia, Western Australia
Coolbinia is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stirling.The name Coolbinia is an Aboriginal word for mistletoe and the suburb was named upon its secession from Mount Lawley in 1953....
are part of the district, as are sections of Dianella
Dianella, Western Australia
Dianella is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stirling.Dianella was named after the botanical title of a small blue lily, Dianella revoluta, which is a narrow-leafed plant which was plentiful in the area prior to residential development. Dianella is home...
and Inglewood
Inglewood, Western Australia
Inglewood is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stirling.-History:With a name thought to have been derived from the Norwegian barque Inglewood , the suburb of Inglewood began when land was first granted to John Gregory in 1831...
. Mount Lawley is bounded by Morley Drive, The Strand, Walter Road West, Eighth Avenue, Carrington Street, Central Avenue, Swan River
Swan River (Western Australia)
The Swan River estuary flows through the city of Perth, in the south west of Western Australia. Its lower reaches are relatively wide and deep, with few constrictions, while the upper reaches are usually quite narrow and shallow....
foreshore, Summers Street, Lord Street, Walcott Street and Wanneroo Road
Wanneroo Road
Wanneroo Road is an important arterial road in Perth, Australia. It is about 75 kilometres long. It links Perth with the City of Wanneroo, and the Towns of Yanchep and Lancelin...
.
History
The original seat of Mount Lawley was created at the 1948 redistribution, at which three new metropolitan electorates were created to replace former northern and agricultural seats in Parliament. Its first member was elected at the 1950 election, and it was always a safe seat for the Liberal PartyLiberal 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...
. At the redistribution, the neighbouring seat of North Perth
Electoral district of North Perth
The Electoral district of North Perth was a Legislative Assembly electorate in the state of Western Australia. The district was named for its location immediately to the north of the central business district of Perth....
became a 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...
seat with booths from the abolished Perth
Electoral district of Perth
The Electoral district of Perth is a Legislative Assembly electorate in the state of Western Australia. Perth is named for the capital city of Western Australia whose central business district falls within its borders. It is one of the oldest electorates in Western Australia, with its first member...
electorate, so Arthur Abbott, the Liberal member for North Perth since 1939, contested and won Mount Lawley. He was ultimately defeated in the 1956 election by the Liberal member for Maylands
Electoral district of Maylands
Maylands is a Legislative Assembly electorate in the state of Western Australia. Maylands is named for the inner northeastern Perth suburb of Maylands which falls within its borders....
, Edward Oldfield
Edward Oldfield
Edward Peate Oldfield was an Australian politician, and a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1951 until 1965 representing the seats of Maylands and Mount Lawley at different times.-Biography:...
, who had resigned from the Liberal Party to contest the election. In the 1962 election
Western Australian state election, 1962
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 31 March 1962 to elect all 50 members to the Legislative Assembly. The Liberal-Country coalition government, led by Premier Sir David Brand, won a second term in office against the Labor Party, led by Opposition Leader Bert Hawke.The election...
, following another redistribution, Oldfield returned to Maylands, whilst North Perth MLA Ray O'Connor
Ray O'Connor
Raymond James "Ray" O'Connor was the 22nd Premier of Western Australia.-Pre-political life:He was born in Perth and attended schools in towns of Narrogin and York, and St Patrick's Boys' School in Perth...
won in Mount Lawley. He was to serve the district for 22 years, and the State as a minister in the Court
Charles Court
Sir Charles Walter Michael Court, was a Western Australian politician, 21st Premier of Western Australia and member for the seat of Nedlands for the Liberal Party for nearly 30 years.-Early life:...
government and ultimately as Premier of Western Australia
Premier of Western Australia
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. The Premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions...
from 25 January 1982 until 19 February 1983. He resigned his seat the following year, and George Cash
George Cash
Samuel Ernest Cash, AM is a former Australian politician, who represented the Liberal Party....
won the resulting by-election. The seat was abolished in the 1988 redistribution and divided between Maylands
Electoral district of Maylands
Maylands is a Legislative Assembly electorate in the state of Western Australia. Maylands is named for the inner northeastern Perth suburb of Maylands which falls within its borders....
, Dianella
Electoral district of Dianella
Dianella was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia from 1977 to 1983 and again from 1989 to 1996.The district was based in the northern suburbs of Perth.-History:...
and Perth
Electoral district of Perth
The Electoral district of Perth is a Legislative Assembly electorate in the state of Western Australia. Perth is named for the capital city of Western Australia whose central business district falls within its borders. It is one of the oldest electorates in Western Australia, with its first member...
.
The seat was recreated in the 2007 redistribution on similar boundaries to its original incarnation. The seat of Yokine
Electoral district of Yokine
Yokine was a Legislative Assembly electorate in the state of Western Australia from 1996 to 2008. It was named for the northern Perth suburb of Yokine which fell within its borders...
, which covered much of the original Mount Lawley's area, was held by Liberal minister Dr Kim Hames
Kim Hames
Dr. Kim Desmond Hames, MBBS, JP, MLA is a Western Australian politician and Deputy Premier of Western Australia under Colin Barnett...
until the 2001 election
Western Australian state election, 2001
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 10 February 2001 to elect all 57 members to the Legislative Assembly and all 34 members to the Legislative Council...
, when he was defeated by the Labor candidate and former Assistant Police Commissioner Bob Kucera
Bob Kucera
Robert Charles Kucera is an Australian politician. He was a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 2001 to 2008, representing the district of Yokine, initially for the Australian Labor Party and from June 2008 as an independent.Joining the police force of Western Australia in...
. After it became clear Kucera did not have Premier Alan Carpenter
Alan Carpenter
Alan John Carpenter is a former Australian politician. He was the 28th Premier of Western Australia, serving from 2006 to 2008. He took office following the resignation of Dr Geoff Gallop...
's support, Kucera did not contest Labor preselection for the 2008 election
Western Australian state election, 2008
A general election was held in the state of Western Australia on Saturday 6 September 2008 to elect 59 members to the Legislative Assembly and 36 members to the Legislative Council...
, and journalist Karen Brown won the nomination unopposed. In June 2008, Kucera resigned from the Labor Party and expressed an intention to contest either Nollamara
Electoral district of Nollamara
Nollamara is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia.The district is based in the north-eastern suburbs of Perth. It includes the suburbs of Nollamara, Alexander Heights, Koondoola, Mirrabooka, Westminster and part of the suburb of...
or Mount Lawley as an independent, though he ultimately contested neither. The 2008 state election
Western Australian state election, 2008
A general election was held in the state of Western Australia on Saturday 6 September 2008 to elect 59 members to the Legislative Assembly and 36 members to the Legislative Council...
saw Brown defeated by Liberal candidate Michael Sutherland
Michael Sutherland
Michael William Sutherland is an Australian politician. He has been a Liberal member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly since September 2008, representing the electorate of Mount Lawley. Michael is the Deputy Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly...
.
Members for Mount Lawley
| Mount Lawley (1950–1989) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Party | Term | |
| Arthur Abbott | 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... |
1950–1956 | |
| Edward Oldfield Edward Oldfield Edward Peate Oldfield was an Australian politician, and a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1951 until 1965 representing the seats of Maylands and Mount Lawley at different times.-Biography:... |
Independent Liberal | 1956–1962 | |
| Ray O'Connor Ray O'Connor Raymond James "Ray" O'Connor was the 22nd Premier of Western Australia.-Pre-political life:He was born in Perth and attended schools in towns of Narrogin and York, and St Patrick's Boys' School in Perth... |
Liberal | 1962–1984 | |
| George Cash George Cash Samuel Ernest Cash, AM is a former Australian politician, who represented the Liberal Party.... |
Liberal | 1984–1989 | |
| Mount Lawley (2008–present) | |||
| Member | Party | Term | |
| Michael Sutherland Michael Sutherland Michael William Sutherland is an Australian politician. He has been a Liberal member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly since September 2008, representing the electorate of Mount Lawley. Michael is the Deputy Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly... |
Liberal | 2008–present | |