Adam Carr's guide to
The 2007 Australian federal election
The House of Representatives
Tasmania
Tasmania
| Fowler |
Division of Franklin | Fraser |
| Fowler |
Division of Franklin | Fraser |
 Julie Collins (ALP) Her ALP website  Vanessa Goodwin (Lib) Her Liberal Party website  Matt Holloway (SA) His Socialist Alliance website  Gino Papiccio (FF) His Family First website  Gerard Velnaar (Grn) His Greens website |
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Location: Hobart: Bridgewater, Cygnet, Kingston, Lauderdale Division named for: Sir John Franklin, Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land 1837-1843 and polar explorer Median weekly family income: $814 (113th highest) Persons born in non English speaking countries: 3.5% (133rd highest) Persons in professional occupations: 25.6% (71st highest) Persons in government employment: 24.0% (6th highest)* Persons aged 65 and over: 12.3% (90th highest) Couple families with dependent children: 38.2% (78th highest) Dwellings being purchased: 32.4% (34th highest) Sitting member: Harry Quick (Independent), elected 1993, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004. Retiring 2007 1996 two-party majority: Labor 04.7 1998 two-party majority: Labor 06.6 Effect of 2001 redistribution: no change 2001 two-party majority: Labor 08.1 2004 primary votes: Labor 46.4, Liberal 38.7, Green 11.2 2004 two-party majority: Labor 07.6 2004 enrolment: 69,794 2007 enrolment: 72,542 (+02.5%) Franklin has existed since Tasmania was first divided into electorates in 1903, initially taking in much of southern and central Tasmania. In recent times it has been cut back to become a Hobart suburban seat, covering the suburbs on the eastern shore of the Derwent River, but also taking in some outer suburan territory to the south-west of Hobart, plus the thinly inhabited south-west corner of the state. Like all the Tasmanian seats it has a relatively low median family income level, and a very low proportion of people born in non English speaking countries. As a suburban seat it has a fairly high proportion of families with dependent children and dwellings being purchased. Over the years Franklin has been held by both sides of politics for extended periods. Recently it seems to have been becoming more reliable for Labor. In 2004 Labor polled over 70% of the two-party vote at a number of booths, including Clarendon Vale (77%) and Bligh, Bridgwater and Risdon Vale. The Liberals' best booths were Port Huon (68%) and Glen Huon (59%). Harry Quick has held Franklin for Labor since 1993. Quick and his Liberal predecessor Bruce Goodluck were both colourful personalities who held the seat largely on their personal standing in the rather parochial atmosphere of Tasmanian politics. Quick is retiring this year. He made clear his disapproval of his Labor successor, Electrical Trades Union official Kevin Harkins, who was found by the Howard government's Royal Commission into the building industry to have "engaged in unlawful conduct". Quick went so far as to appear with the Liberal candidate, and partly as a result was expelled from the Labor Party (he had in fact allowed his membership to lapse). After months of controversy Harkins withdrew his candidacy in August. The new Labor candidate is Julie Collins. In June a local poll in June showed Labor to be well ahead. With Harkins gone there is now little chance that Labor's hold on the seat will be challenged. Candidates in ballot-paper order |
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Two-party vote by booth, 2004
Click to enlarge map
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