Melanie Gibbons

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Melanie Gibbons
MP
Member of the New South Wales Parliament
for Menai
Incumbent
Assumed office
26 March 2011
Preceded by Alison Megarrity
Personal details
Nationality  Australia
Political party Liberal Party of Australia
Occupation Real estate agent
Website Parliamentary webpage

Melanie Rhonda Gibbons MP, an Australian politician, is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Menai for the Liberal Party of Australia since 2011.

Early years and background

Gibbons was born and raised in Woronora in the Sutherland Shire and worked as a real estate agent before becoming a development manager for Technical Aid to the Disabled.[1] She also formerly worked for various state and federal politicians.[2]

Political career

Elected to the Sutherland Shire Council in 2004 as an independent candidate, Gibbons was, at one stage, deputy mayor.[3]

Having previously sought endrosement in 2007, Gibbons was endorsed as a candidate for the Liberal Party in 2010. At the March 2011 elections, Gibbons was elected and received a swing of 27.1 per cent--almost unheard of in Australian politics--winning 74.4 per cent of the vote on a two-party preferred basis. She actually won 61 percent of the primary vote, enough to win the seat without the need for preferences.[4] Alison Megarrity, the incumbent Labor member, did not seek re-election. Gibbons' main competitor was Peter Scaysbrook. Menai was among the first seats claimed as won by the Coalition on election night; according to Gibbons, it was the very first seat the Coalition took off Labor in its landslide victory.[5]

References

  1. Tarasov, Anne (19 May 2010). "A challenge for Lib in Menai". Liverpool Champion (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 10 April 2011. 
  2. "Menai Liberal candidate - Melanie Gibbons". St George & Sutherland Shire Leader (Fairfax Media). 16 March 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2011. 
  3. "Clr Melanie Gibbons". Councillors. Sutherland Shire Council. Retrieved 10 April 2011. 
  4. Green. Antony (5 April 2011). "Menai". NSW Votes 2011 (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 10 April 2011. 
  5. Roberts, Simone (30 March 2011). "Gibbons misses her call but wins Menai in a landslide". Liverpool Leader (News Limited). Retrieved 10 April 2011. 
Parliament of New South Wales
Preceded by
Alison Megarrity
Member for Menai
2011 present
Succeeded by
Incumbent
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