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The Division of McEwen is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria. It is located in the centre of the state, north of the capital city of Melbourne. It includes the outer northern suburb of Whittlesea, and the towns of Woodend, Tooborac, Broadford, Seymour, Yea, Eildon, Marysville, Kinglake and Warburton, as well as many other small towns.
The Division was proclaimed at the redistribution of 14 September 1984, and was first contested at the 1984 Federal election. It was named after Rt Hon Sir John McEwen, leader of the Country Party of Australia, who was appointed caretaker Prime Minister of Australia after the disappearance of Harold Holt in 1967.
The 2007 federal election resulted in McEwen becoming the most marginal seat in the country. Incumbent Liberal MP Fran Bailey led throughout most of the initial count, only be initially found to have lost to former Labor state MP Rob Mitchell by six votes. Bailey subsequently requested and was granted a full recount, which resulted in a change in the lead and a twelve-vote victory for Bailey. On 29 January 2008 ALP National Secretary Tim Gartrell announced that a challenge to the result would be lodged with the High Court of Australia in its capacity as the Court of Disputed Returns. The High Court judge has ordered that all 643 disputed ballots from McEwen be sent to the Federal Court in Melbourne for adjudication.[1][2][3]
[edit] Members
[edit] Election results
| Australian federal election, 2007: McEwen |
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Liberal |
Fran Bailey |
44,165 |
45.76 |
-5.98 |
|
Labor |
Rob Mitchell |
38,819 |
40.22 |
+5.67 |
|
Greens |
Steve Meacher |
8,379 |
8.68 |
+1.03 |
|
Family First |
Ian Cranson |
2,398 |
2.48 |
+0.76 |
|
Democrats |
David Kane |
948 |
0.98 |
+0.16 |
|
Independent |
Darren Trueman |
849 |
0.88 |
+0.88 |
|
Liberty and Democracy |
Robert Newnham |
799 |
0.83 |
+0.83 |
|
Citizens Electoral Council |
Rod McLennan |
161 |
0.17 |
-0.05 |
| Total formal votes |
96,518 |
95.91 |
+0.57 |
| Informal votes |
4,166 |
4.09 |
-0.57 |
| Turnout |
100,634 |
96.29 |
+0.18 |
| Two Candidate Preferred Result |
|
Liberal |
Fran Bailey |
48,265 |
50.01 |
-6.41 |
|
Labor |
Rob Mitchell |
48,253 |
49.99 |
+6.41 |
|
Liberal hold |
Swing |
-6.41 |
|
*The result is being challenged in the Court of Disputed Returns
| Australian federal election, 2004: McEwen |
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Liberal |
Fran Bailey |
45,230 |
51.74 |
+5.18 |
|
Labor |
Jenny Beales |
30,205 |
34.55 |
-2.81 |
|
Greens |
Megan Hannes-Paterson |
6,686 |
7.65 |
+0.41 |
|
Independent |
Robert Gordon |
2,220 |
2.54 |
+2.54 |
|
Family First |
Mark Sach |
1,500 |
1.72 |
+1.72 |
|
Democrats |
Marj White |
713 |
0.82 |
-4.64 |
|
Independent |
Damon Gordon Lutz |
398 |
0.46 |
+0.46 |
|
Independent |
Maurie Smith |
278 |
0.32 |
+0.32 |
|
Citizens Electoral Council |
Rod McLennan |
188 |
0.22 |
+0.22 |
| Total formal votes |
87,418 |
95.34 |
-1.08 |
| Informal votes |
4,273 |
4.66 |
+1.08 |
| Turnout |
91,691 |
96.11 |
+0.34 |
| Two Candidate Preferred Result |
|
Liberal |
Fran Bailey |
49,322 |
56.42 |
+4.10 |
|
Labor |
Jenny Beales |
38,096 |
43.58 |
-4.10 |
|
Liberal hold |
Swing |
+4.10 |
|
[edit] References
- ^ Doherty, Paul. "Court to make final call on McEwen", The Age, 29 February 2008. Retrieved on 2008-06-06.
- ^ Doherty, Paul. "ALP takes hopes for McEwen to court", The Age, 20 May 2008. Retrieved on 2008-06-06. "Labor believes it is poised to snatch the Victorian seat of McEwen back from the Coalition — nearly five months after the election. The knife-edge marginal was originally awarded to Labor by just six votes, but a recount gave it to the Liberals by 12. Labor is now contesting that result in court — arguing that the Australian Electoral Commission broke its own rules in discounting a number of pro-Labor votes."
- ^ Doherty, Paul. "End in sight for McEwen ballot battle", The Age, 9 June 2008. Retrieved on 2008-06-10.
[edit] External links
