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Division of Banks | Barker |
 Daryl Melham (ALP) His parliametary website |  |
Location: Sydney: Milperra, Padstow, Panania, Revesby Division named for: Sir Joseph Banks, botanist who sailed with James Cook Median weekly family income: $1,031 (44nd highest) Persons born in non English speaking countries: 25.0% (23th highest) Persons in professional occupations: 23.4% (92th highest) Persons aged 65 and over: 15.0% (38th highest) Couple families with dependent children: 39.5% (54th highest) Dwellings being purchased: 21.3% (115th highest) Sitting member: Daryl Melham (Labor), elected 1990, 1993, 1996, 998, 2001, 2004, 2007 Born: 26 November 1954, Sydney. Career: Barrister, Public solicitor 1979-87, Public defender 1987-90. Member, Opposition Shadow Ministry 1996-2000 and 2001-04. Shadow Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs 1996-2000, Assistant to the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs on Arms Control 1996-98, Shadow Minister for Reconciliation 1998-2000, Shadow Minister for Justice and Customs 2001-03, Shadow Minister for Heritage and Territories 2003. Shadow Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Local Government 2003-04. 1996 two-party majority: Labor 01.4 1998 two-party majority: Labor 07.1 Effect of 2001 redistribution: 00.2 shift to Labor 2001 two-party majority: Labor 02.9 2004 two-party majority: Labor 01.1 Effect of 2006 redistribution: 02.2 shift to Labor 2007 notional two-party majority: Labor 03.3 2007 two-party majority: Labor 11.1 
2004 enrolment: 83,292 2007 enrolment: 92,726 (+11.3%) (new boundaries) Banks was created in 1949, and its boundaries and social composition have changed very little since. It has always taken in a block of Sydney's south-western suburbs, areas which now have a stable, home-owning and ageing population, with a relatively high proportion born in non-English speaking countries. The seat has always been held by Labor, although the Liberals came close to winning it in 1966, 1975, 1996 and 2004. During the Howard years the Liberal Party had increasing hopes of winning Banks, but the inclusion of solid Labor territory in Bankstown and Condell Park at the 2006 redistribution somewhat improved the seat for Labor, particularly by increasing its proportion of people born in non-English speaking countries. In 2004 Labor polled over 70% of the two-party vote at three of the seven new booths. Daryl Melham, Labor member for Banks since 1990, is an outspoken left-winger, and was the first member for Banks to be elected to the Labor front bench, serving for most of the period 1996-2004. He resigned in 2001 in protest at Kim Beazley's position on native title, then returned in 2001. He resigned again after Labor's fourth successive defeat in 2004. In 2007 Melham gained a swing of nearly 8%, probably putting the seat out of the reach of the Liberals. Labor polled more than 70% of the two-party vote at all four Bankstown booths, and at Condell Park South, Hannans Rd, Punchbowl South and Riverwood North. The Liberals polled 59% at Lugarno and also won Oatley West, Peakhurst South and Picnic Point North. | | 
Two-party vote by booth, 2007
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