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| Adam Carr's Election Archive
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Victorian state election, 2018
Brunswick District
Inner Melbourne: Brunswick, Coburg, Fitzroy North, Parkville, Pascoe Vale South
Federal seats: Parts of Melbourne and
Wills
Legislative Council: Northern Metropolitan Region
Local government areas: Parts of Melbourne, Moreland, Yarra
Enrolment 2014 election: 46,594
Enrolment 2018 election: 53,340 (up 14.5%)
Sitting member:
Hon Jane Garrett (Labor): Elected 2010, 2014. Contesting Legislative Council 2018
2010 Labor majority over Greens: 3.3
2014 Labor majority over Greens: 2.2
Status: Very marginal Labor versus Greens
Very safe Labor versus Liberal
2014 results
Candidates
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Cindy O'Connor
Australian Labor Party |
Dr Tim Read
Australian Greens |
Adam Wojtonis
Liberal Party |
George Georgiou (Independent)
Catherine Deveney (Fiona Patten's Reason Party)
Noel Collins (Liberal Democrats)
Cindy O'Connor (Australian Labor Party)
Kerry Sourasis (Independent)
Adam Wojtonis (Liberal Party)
Dr Tim Read
Christopher Anderson (Independent)
Christopher Miles (Independent)
Brunswick District
Brunswick was first created in 1904, and existed until 1955, when it was divided into Brunswick East and West. In
1973 the two Brunswicks were reunited, but in 1992 Brunswick was abolished and most of its territory placed in the
seat of Coburg. In 2002, as a result of rapid population growth in the inner city, the seat was renamed
Brunswick. For most of its history Brunswick was a solidly working-class seat, but in recent years it has been
colonised by affluent professionals and it is now quite a wealthy area.
Whatever its name, Brunswick was a safe Labor seat from its creation until the past decade. It was held
by Cain government minister Tom Roper 1973-94. But the changing demographics of the area have led to a sharp rise
in support for the Greens, from nothing in 1999 to just under 40% in 2014. In 2010 and 2014 Labor only retained the
seat because it received Liberal preferences. The Greens dominate the southern part of the seat (Brunswick and
North Fitzroy), while Labor's remaining strength is in Coburg and Pascoe Vale.
Jane Garrett, Labor MLA for Brunswick since 2010, is a lawyer, and worked for the Transport Workers Union before
becoming an adviser to Premier Steve Bracks. She was Mayor of the City of Yarra in 2010. She was Minister for
Emergency Services and Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation from December 2014 to June 2016.
She resigned when Premier Daniel Andrews did not support her in a dispute with the United Firefighters Union,
which was attempting to expand its control over the Country Fire Authority.
After much Labor Party factional bickering, it was decided that Garrett will vacate Brunswick at the 2018
election and stand for the Eastern Victoria Region of the Legislative Council. Labor originally chose ACTU
President Ged Kearney to contest the seat, but in February 2018 she withdraw to contest (successfully) the by-election
for the federal seat of Batman.
The new Labor candidate is Cindy O'Connor, an occupational health and safety worker with the Australian
Manufacturing Workers Union. The Greens candidate is Dr Tim Read, a medical researcher in sexual health and
HIV medicine.
The conflict surrounding Garrett's departure from the ministry and the change of candidate after Kearney's
withdrawal will make this a
difficult seat for Labor to hold. Labor will be hoping that the Greens' setback in the Batman by-election means that they
have passed their peak
in inner Melbourne. If the Greens win Brunswick, and retain their existing seats, it will be more difficult
for Labor to form a majority government.
Boundaries following 2014 redistricting:
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