| Curtin |
Division of Dawson | Deakin |
 James Bidgood (ALP) His ALP website |  |
Location: Qld Coast: Ayr, Bowen, Mackay, Proserpine Division named for: Hon Anderson Dawson, first Labor premier of an Australian colony (1899) and member of the first federal Parliament Median weekly family income: $843 (103rd highest) Persons born in non English speaking countries: 4.4% (107th highest) Persons in professional occupations: 22.0% (111th highest) Persons engaged in agriculture: 10.7% (18th highest) Persons aged 65 and over: 11.9% (101st highest) Couple families with dependent children: 39.5% (54th highest) Dwellings being purchased: 22.8% (96th highest) Sitting member: James Bidgood (Labor), elected 2007 Born 26 May 1959, London, United Kingdom. Career: Educated Open University, London. Printer and platemaker, professional photographer, medical centre financial director. Mackay City Council 2004-07. 1996 two-party majority: National 09.9 Effect of 1998 redistribution: 01.0 shift to National 1998 two-party majority: National 04.4 2001 two-party majority: National 08.0 Effect of 2004 redistribution: no change 2004 two-party majority: National 10.4 Effect of 2006 redistribution: 00.2 shift to Labor 2007 notional two-party majority: National 10.2 2007 two-party majority: Labor 03.2 
2004 enrolment: 91,615 2007 enrolment: 87,394 (-04.7%) (new boundaries) Dawson was created in 1949, based on the sugar and beef ports of Bowen and Mackay, and its boundaries have not changed much since, although the seat has been cut back to the coastal strip by recent redistributions. It is a still a seat in which agriculture plays a prominent role, and like all such seats has a low level of median family income, a low proportion of people in professional occupations and low proportion of people born in non English speaking countries. It has usually been a safe seat for the Country/National Party. Labor's Dr Rex Patterson won a famous upset in Dawson in the 1966 by-election, and held the seat largely on his personal standing until 1975. Following his defeat the Nationals were fairly secure until 2007. De-Anne Kelly, the first National Party woman elected to the House, had a brief and unhappy ministerial career and was fatally linked to the "regional partnerships" program, which she was accused of using as a slush fund for her National colleagues. This contributed to the shock swing of 13.4% which saw her defeated in 2007 by the unknown James Bidgood. In 2007 Labor polled 67% of the two-party vote at Bakers Creek, and also topped 60% at Andergrove, Beaconsfield, Bowen, East Mackay, North Mackay, Slade Point, South Mackay and Victoria Park. The Nationals polled 81% at Millaroo, 80% at Clare and 77% at Airville. At Andergove and Hamilton Island Labor gained swings of over 20%. | | 
Two-party vote by booth, 2007
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