Division of Dawson

Australian federal electoral division

Dawson
Australian House of Representatives Division
Map
Map
Interactive map of boundaries
Created1949
MPAndrew Willcox
PartyLiberal National
NamesakeAnderson Dawson
Electors110,356 (2022)
Area14,630 km2 (5,648.7 sq mi)
DemographicProvincial and rural
Electorates around Dawson:
Herbert Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean
Kennedy Dawson Pacific Ocean
Capricornia Capricornia Pacific Ocean

The Division of Dawson is an Australian electoral division in Queensland. It covers areas around the city of Mackay.

Geography

Since 1984, federal electoral division boundaries in Australia have been determined at redistributions by a redistribution committee appointed by the Australian Electoral Commission. Redistributions occur for the boundaries of divisions in a particular state, and they occur every seven years, or sooner if a state's representation entitlement changes or when divisions of a state are malapportioned.[1]

The Division of Dawson includes the city of Mackay, as well as other neighbouring towns. It also includes the Whitsunday Islands.

History

Anderson Dawson, the division's namesake

The division was created in 1949 and is named after Anderson Dawson, the first Labor Premier of Queensland and leader of the first parliamentary socialist government anywhere in the world. It is located on the North Queensland coast, taking in the towns of Ayr, Bowen, Mackay, Proserpine and some south-eastern suburbs of the city of Townsville.

Apart from a period from 1966 to 1975 and 2007 to 2010, it has been held by the National Party. While Mackay, the largest city wholly within the electorate, is a longstanding Labor stronghold, it is usually not enough to overcome the region's overall conservative leaning.

Members

Image Member Party Term Notes
  Charles Davidson
(1897–1985) 		Country 10 December 1949 –
1 November 1963 		Previously held the Division of Capricornia. Served as minister under Menzies. Retired
  George Shaw
(1913–1966) 		Country 30 November 1963 –
9 January 1966 		Died in office
  Rex Patterson
(1927–2016) 		Labor 26 February 1966 –
13 December 1975 		Served as minister under Whitlam. Lost seat
  Ray Braithwaite
(1933–) 		National Country 13 December 1975 –
16 October 1982 		Retired
  Nationals 16 October 1982 –
29 January 1996
  De-Anne Kelly
(1954–) 		Nationals 2 March 1996 –
24 November 2007 		Served as minister under Howard. Lost seat
  James Bidgood
(1959–) 		Labor 24 November 2007 –
19 July 2010 		Retired
  George Christensen
(1978–) 		Liberal Nationals 21 August 2010 –
27 March 2022 		Did not contest in 2022. Failed to win a Senate seat
  One Nation 27 March 2022 –
21 May 2022
  Andrew Willcox Liberal Nationals 21 May 2022 –
present 		Incumbent

Election results

2022 Australian federal election: Dawson[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal National Andrew Willcox 40,109 43.33 +0.38
Labor Shane Hamilton 22,650 24.47 +4.19
One Nation Julie Hall 12,289 13.27 +0.18
Greens Paula Creen 6,675 7.21 +2.70
Katter's Australian Ciaron Paterson 5,189 5.61 −0.71
United Australia Christian Young 3,713 4.01 −0.89
Great Australian Jim Jackson 1,948 2.10 +2.10
Total formal votes 92,573 95.86 +2.87
Informal votes 4,001 4.14 −2.87
Turnout 96,574 87.49 −3.30
Two-party-preferred result
Liberal National Andrew Willcox 55,930 60.42 −4.19
Labor Shane Hamilton 36,643 39.58 +4.19
Liberal National hold Swing −4.19
The sitting member, George Christensen, was elected as a Liberal National, but resigned from the party in 2022, subsequently joining One Nation and contested a Senate seat.

References

  1. ^ Muller, Damon (14 November 2017). "The process of federal redistributions: a quick guide". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  2. ^ Dawson, QLD, 2022 Tally Room, Australian Electoral Commission.

External links

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Electoral divisions of the Australian House of Representatives in Queensland
Liberal National (21)
Liberal (15)
National (6)
Labor (5)Greens (3)Katter's Australian (1)Abolished
  • Divisions in: New South Wales
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20°12′14″S 148°00′11″E / 20.204°S 148.003°E / -20.204; 148.003