Psephos - Adam Carr's Election Archive

Adam Carr's Election Archive

Victorian state election, 2018
Burwood District

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Eastern Melbourne: Ashwood, Burwood, Camberwell, Chadstone, Glen Iris
Federal seats: Parts of Chisholm, Higgins and Kooyong
Legislative Council: Southern Metropolitan Region
Local government areas: Parts of Boroondarra, Monash and Whitehorse
Enrolment 2014 election: 41,878
Enrolment 2018 election: 43,169 (up 3.1%)

Sitting member: Graham Watt (Liberal): Elected 2010, 2014

2010 Liberal majority over Labor: 5.9
2014 Liberal majority over Labor: 3.2

Status: Very marginal Liberal

  • 2014 results

    Candidates

  • Will Fowles
    Australian Labor Party
    Graham Ross
    Australian Greens
    Graham Watt
    Liberal Party

  • Will Fowles (Australian Labor Party)
  • Amanda Beattie (Animal Justice Party)
  • Graham Ross (Australian Greens)
  • Graham Watt (Liberal Party)

  • Burwood District

    Burwood was first created in 1955, when the old seat of Glen Iris was abolished. In 1967 it was renamed as Glen Iris, then in 1976 it again became Burwood. It always occupied much the same territory in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. In the 1950s this was a growing area with many young families buying homes, but now it is an electorate of homeowners, with a stable and ageing population.

    Until recently Burwood / Glen Iris was regarded as a safe Liberal seat, but has been drifting towards Labor as some of the older inner eastern suburbs decline in social status. James MacDonald held the seat comfortably from 1955 to 1976. He was succeeded by Jeff Kennett, then 28, who was a minister in the Hamer and Thompson governments and became Liberal leader in 1983. After losing two elections he was replaced by Alan Brown, but reclaimed the leadership and won a landslide victory over Joan Kirner's demoralised government in 1992. He was re-elected in 1996, but his high-handed style led to a revolt in the regional seats that cost him government in 1999.

    After the 1999 defeat, Kennett resigned from Parliament, and Labor's Bob Stensholt won the by-election with a 10% swing. He retained the seat in 2002 and 2006, but in 2010 was defeated by the Liberal Graham Watt, who has held it since.

    Graham Watt, Liberal MLA for Burwood since 2010, was a sales executive and small businessman before entering politics. His Labor opponent is Will Fowles, a funds manager. The Greens candidate is Graham Ross, who works in property management. With a majority of only 3.2%, this is no longer a safe seat for the Liberals.

    Boundaries following 2014 redistricting:




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