Wentworth
Climate Change?
Marginal Liberal, 2.5% (post-redistribution – previously 5.5%)
Wentworth is an inner city seat in Sydney’s east, taking in Darlinghurst, Kings Cross, Paddington, Woollahra, Double Bay, Vaucluse, Bondi, Waverley and Bronte. It is one of the smallest, most densely populated and diverse electorates in the country. Federal Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been the MP since 2004, and the Liberal Party and its predecessors have held the seat since Federation.
Although Labor has never won Wentworth, it seemed to have a chance in 2004 when sitting member Peter King was dumped by the Liberal Party and ran as an independent. King got 18 per cent of the vote, but his preferences favoured the high-profile Turnbull by more than 60 per cent, and he was elected reasonably comfortably. Now, the redistribution has taken parts of Randwick from Wentworth and given it Darlinghurst and Kings Cross instead. This will improve Labor's chances, and they have recruited the Mayor of Waverley, human rights lawyer George Newhouse, as their candidate. But without a high-profile independent to siphon off Liberal votes, taking the seat from Turnbull will be a bigger task than it perhaps looks. Still, Labor will want to win this one.
Declared Candidates
- Dixie Coulton, Climate Change Coalition
- Pierce Field, Australian Democrats
- Leonie Hull, Family First
- John Jamieson, Citizens Electoral Council
- Susan Jarnason, Greens
- George Newhouse, Australian Labor Party
- Malcolm Turnbull, Liberal Party
2 PARTY PREFERRED SWINGS BY BOOTH 2004 ELECTION
2 PARTY PREFERRED VOTE BY BOOTH 2004 ELECTION
LEGEND:
Blue: Liberals
Red: Labor
Size of figure reflects the number of votes cast at booth
OTHER NSW MARGINALS
