| Cunningham |
Division of Curtin | Dawson |
 Hon Julie Bishop (Lib) Her electorate website |  |
Location: Perth: Churchlands, Claremont, Nedlands, Subiaco Division named for: Rt Hon John Curtin, Prime Minister of Australia 1941-45 Median weekly family income: $1,390 (12th highest) Persons born in non English speaking countries: 14.9% (52nd highest) Persons born in the UK and Ireland: 10.3% (13th highest) Persons in professional occupations: 47.0% (8th highest) Persons aged 65 and over: 15.1% (35th highest) Couple families with dependent children: 38.2% (79th highest) Dwellings being purchased: 21.4% (113th highest) Sitting member: Hon Julie Bishop (Liberal), elected 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007 Born: 17 July 1956, Lobethal, South Australia. Career: Barrister and solicitor, Chair Town Planning Appeal Tribunal of WA 1994-98, Director SBS Television 1997-98, Director and Fellow Australian Institute of Management 1997-98. Minister for Ageing 2003-06, Minister for Education, Science and Training and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues 2006-07. Member, Opposition Shadow Ministry from 2007, Shadow Minister for Employment, Business and Workplace Relations 2007-08. Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party and Deputy Leader of the Opposition from 29 November 2007 Shadow Treasurer from 22 September 2008 1996 two-party majority: Independent over Liberal 15.2 Effect of redistribution: cannot be calculated 1998 two-party majority: Liberal 13.3 Effect of 2001 redistribution: 00.2 shift to Liberal 2001 two-party majority: Liberal 14.0 2004 two-party majority: Liberal 14.6 2004 two-party majority: Liberal 13.6 
2004 enrolment: 84,216 2007 enrolment: 86,104 (+02.2%) Curtin was created in 1949, based in Perth's western beachside suburbs. This is the most affluent part of Perth and the seat has never come close to electing a Labor member. Subsequent redistributions have extended the seat northwards into slightly less affluent areas, only slightly weakening the Liberal position, and making it the safest urban Liberal seat in Australia. There is some Labor strength along the eastern edges of the seat, at Leederville and West Perth. Curtin has among the country's highest median family incomes and highest levels of people in professional occupations. It is also an ageing area with a fairly high level of over 65s and a fairly low level of families with dependent children. It also has a high level of immigrants from the UK. The first member for Curtin was Sir Paul Hasluck, Liberal foreign minister and later Governor-General. Julie Bishop has held the seat since 1998. Bishop was rapidly promoted in the Howard government and after the government's defeat she was elected Deputy Leader in opposition. She retained this position in 2008 when Malcolm Turnbull became Liberal leader, and was promoted to Shadow Treasurer. In 2007 there was only a 1% swing to Labor, and the Liberals won all but five booths. The Liberals polled 80% of the two-party vote at Dalkeith, and more than 75% at City Beach, City Beach North, Cottesloe South and Peppermint Grove. Labor polled 55% at West Perth and 53% at Leederville and Subiaco North. | | 
Two-party vote by booth, 2007
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