Adam Carr's guide to
The 2007 Australian federal election

The House of Representatives

South Australia
Petrie                       

Division of Port Adelaide

                Prospect


Mark Butler (ALP)

His ALP website


Brenton Chomel (Lib)

His Liberal Party website




Bruce Hambour (FF)

His Family First website


Pam Moore (Dem)

Her 2006
Democrats website



Colin Thomas (Grn)

His Greens website
Location: Adelaide: Parafield, Port Adelaide, Salisbury, Semaphore
Division named for: The City of Port Adelaide, named in 1837
Median weekly family income: $741 (132nd highest)
Persons born in non English speaking countries: 18.9% (37th highest)
Persons in professional occupations: 16.2% (142nd highest)
Persons employed in manufacturing: 21.5% (7th highest)
Persons aged 65 and over: 14.2% (51st highest)
Couple families with dependent children: 35.5% (113th highest)
Dwellings being purchased: 29.3% (47th highest)
Sitting member: Rod Sawford (Labor), elected 1988by, 1990, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004. Retiring 2007
1996 two-party majority: Labor 07.1
1998 two-party majority: Labor 16.1
Effect of 2001 redistribution: 00.4 shift to Liberal
2001 two-party majority: Labor 14.6
Effect of 2004 redistribution: 01.8 shift to Labor
2004 primary votes: Labor 54.5, Liberal 31.9, Green 5.4
2004 two-party majority: Labor 12.9
2004 enrolment: 97,707
2007 enrolment: 100,244 (+02.6%)
Port Adelaide was created in 1949, based on the working-class suburbs around the port of Adelaide, and has always been among the safest Labor seats in Australia. Recent redistributions have expanded the seat into newer suburbs to the north, without changing its social or political composition. It has the second-lowest lowest level of median family income of any urban electorate (only Blaxland in western Sydney is poorer), and also a very low level of people in professional occupations. Compared with similar seats in other states, however, it has a relatively low level of people born in non English speaking countries. In 2004 Labor carried every booth except Mawson Lakes and Virginia, gaining over 70% of the two-party vote at Woodville Gardens, Semaphore, Ottaway, Birkenhead and Ferryden Park. Rod Sawford has held the seat for Labor since a by-election in 1988. Sawford is retiring this year.
Candidates in ballot-paper order
  • Colin Thomas (Green) works for the Department for Environment and Heritage, co-ordinating delivery of information on national parks.
  • Bruce Hambour (Family First) is director of a transport company.
  • Mark Butler (Labor) is state secretary of the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union
  • Brenton Chomel (Liberal) is a bus driver.
  • Pam Moore (Democrats) is Coordinator of the Health Rights and Community Action Group and Vice President of the Consumers Association of South Australia.




















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    Two-party vote by booth, 2004 Click to enlarge map

    Two-party swing by booth, 2004 Click to enlarge map

    Members for Port Adelaide



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