| Fadden |
Division of Fairfax | Farrer |
 Hon Alex Somlyay (Lib) No website |  |
Location: North of Brisbane: Coolum, Maroochydore, Nambour, Yandina Division named for: Ruth Fairfax, a founder of the Country Women's Association Median weekly family income: $712 (138th highest) Persons born in non English speaking countries: 4.9% (109th highest) Persons in professional occupations: 22.8% (100th highest) Persons employed in tourism: 7.2% (14th highest) Persons aged 65 and over: 16.1% (23rd highest) Couple families with dependent children: 35.0% (116th highest) Dwellings being purchased: 25.0% (81st highest) Sitting member: Hon Alex Somlyay (Liberal), elected 1990, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007 Born: 18 January 1946, Hungary. Career: Public servant, consultant economist, company director, senior Private Secretary to Hon Evan Adermann MHR. Member, Opposition Shadow Ministry 1992-94. Secretary to Shadow Cabinet 1992-93, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition 1993-94. Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government 1997-98. 1996 two-party majority: Liberal 18.1 Effect of 1998 redistribution: 00.4 shift to Labor 1998 two-party majority: Liberal 04.4 2001 two-party majority: Liberal 09.2 Effect of 2004 redistribution: 00.3 shift to Liberal 2004 two-party majority: Liberal 10.8 Effect of 2006 redistribution: 02.5 shift to Liberal 2007 notional two-party majority: Liberal 13.3 2007 two-party majority: Liberal 03.0 
2004 enrolment: 84,401 2007 enrolment: 90,231 (+06.9%) (new boundaries) Fairfax was created in 1984, in the northern part of the Sunshine Coast, the fast-growing tourism and retirement region north of Brisbane. Until 2006 it was centred on Noosa, but the 2006 redistibution moved the seat south and it is now based on Maroochydore and Nambour. The dominant industry is now tourism. The electorate has among the lowest median family income levels of any seat, reflecting the large population of retired people, and also the low proportions of people in professional occupations and of people born in non English speaking countries typical of seats of this kind, particularly in Queensland. The seat was regarded until recently as safe for the non-Labor parties, shifting from National to Liberal in 1990 when the Nationals made an ill-advised attempt to install John Stone, the former head of the Treasury and a candidate with no local standing. Alex Somlyay (Liberal) has held the seat since 1990, and had a brief spell as a junior minister in the Howard government. In 2007 he suffered a 10.3% swing, rendering the seat marginal for the first time. The Liberals polled 64% at Buderim South, and also topped 60% at three other booths in Buderim, and at Forest Glen and Peregian Springs. Labor polled 58% at Coolum Beach and 56% at Nambour. | | 
Two-party vote by booth, 2007
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