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Division of Melbourne Ports | Menzies |
 Michael Danby (ALP) His electorate website |  |
Location: Melbourne: Caulfield, Port Melbourne, South Melbourne, St Kilda
Division named for: Port Melbourne and Williamstown, the ports of Melbourne, which were both in the electorate in 1901 Median weekly family income: $1,407 (10th highest) Persons born in non English speaking countries: 20.4% (31st highest) Persons in professional occupations: 47.7% (5th highest) Persons aged 65 and over: 13.0% (75th highest) Couple families with dependent children: 28.6% (147th highest) Dwellings being purchased: 16.5% (144th highest) Dwellings are flat, unit or apartment: 53.7% (4th highest) Sitting member: Michael Danby (Labor), elected 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007 Born: 16 February 1955, Melbourne Career: Assistant Private Secretary to Hon Barry Cohen MHR, editor Australia/Israel Review, adviser to Hon Alan Griffiths MHR, industrial officer Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association. Deputy Opposition Whip 2001-07. 1996 two-party majority: Labor 06.1 1998 two-party majority: Labor 05.8 2001 two-party majority: Labor 05.7 Effect of 2004 redistribution: no change 2004 two-party majority: Labor 03.7 2007 two-party majority: Labor 07.2 
2004 enrolment: 92,740 2007 enrolment: 95,935 (+03.4%) Melbourne Ports has existed since Federation, but it is one of the most radically changed of the federation seats, both in terms of its boundaries and its social composition. Once based in Melbourne's working-class heartland in the western suburbs, since 1969 it has extended eastwards to St Kilda, while in 1990 the wealthy suburb of Caulfield was added. Today Melbourne Ports is in the top 10% of electorates in terms of median income level and proportion of people in professional occupations. Yet it continues to elect a Labor member, as it has done since 1906, although since 1996 it has been a marginal seat. This is partly because many of its high-income residents in suburbs like St Kilda hold left-wing views, and partly because the electorate is about 25% Jewish, and many Jewish voters who would otherwise vote Liberal support the current sitting member. Members for Melbourne Ports have included Labor Cabinet ministers Ted Holloway, Frank Crean and Clyde Holding. Michael Danbywon the seat for Labor in 1998. Until 2007 (when he was joined by Mark Dreyfus) he was the only Jewish member of the House of Representatives, and this helps him in East St Kilda and Caulfield. In 2004 and 2007 the Liberals ran Jewish candidates against Danby. They gained a small swing in 2004, but suffered a swing against them in 2007. In 2007 Labor polled 72% of the two-party vote at St Kilda, and also topped 70% at Argyle, Sandridge, St Kilda Beach and St Kilda South. The Liberals polled 54% at Caulfield. | |  Two-party vote by booth, 2007
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