| Barton |
Division of Bass | Batman |
 Jodie Campbell (ALP) Her parliamentary website |  |
Location: Northern Tas: George Town, Launceston, Newnham, Scottsdale Division named for: Dr George Bass, explorer of southern Australia Median weekly family income: $760 (126th highest) Persons born in non English speaking countries: 3.8% (132nd highest) Persons in professional occupations: 24.3% (85th highest) Persons aged 65 and over: 13.7% (61st highest) Couple families with dependent children: 35.3% (115th highest) Dwellings being purchased: 27.9% (60th highest) Sitting member: Jodie Campbell (Labor), elected 2007 Born: 18 January 1972, Queenstown, Tasmania. Career: Legal secretary. Launceston City Council 2005-07, Deputy Mayor 2005-07. 1996 two-party majority: Liberal 04.6 1998 two-party majority: Labor 00.1 Effect of 2001 redistribution: no change 2001 two-party majority: Labor 02.1 2004 two-party majority: Liberal 02.6 2007 two-party majority: Labor 01.0 
2004 enrolment: 67,941 2007 enrolment: 68,967 (+01.5%) Bass has existed since Tasmania was first divided into electorates in 1903, and has always consisted of the city of Launceston and some surrounding rural areas - it is one of the least changed of the federation seats. The seat has always been politically marginal and has frequently changed hands. Only two of its thirteen members have retired undefeated. Its relatively low income level, which should tip it towards Labor, is offset by its very low level of people born in non English speaking countries. Lance Barnard won Bass in 1954 and was Deputy Prime Minister in the Whitlam government. Warwick Smith held the seat twice and was a minister in the Howard government before being defeated by Michelle O'Byrne in 1998. Mark Latham's anti-logging forestry policy and John Howard's pitch to the timber workers cost her the seat in 2004. Michael Ferguson, who defeated O'Byrne, was an outspoken member, but he was unable to defend his position in the face of the unpopularity of the Howard government and its workplace relations laws in Tasmania. He was defeated in 2007 by Jodie Campbell, the deputy mayor of Launceston. Labor polled 68% of the two-party vote at Waverley and also topped 60% at George Town, Inveresk, Invermay, Mowbray, Myrtle Park, Newnham, Ravenswood and Rochelea. The Liberals polled over 60% at Bridport, Gladstone, Prospect Vale, Whitemark and Winnaleah. Bass has been only slightly altered by the 2008 redistribution and will again be a vital marginal seat in 2010. | |  Two-party vote by booth, 2007
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