The Division of Hughes is an Australian electoral division in the state of New South Wales.

Hughes
Australian House of Representatives Division
Division of Hughes in New South Wales, as of the 2016 federal election
Created1955
MPJenny Ware
PartyLiberal
NamesakeBilly Hughes
Electors107,364 (2022)
Area369 km2 (142.5 sq mi)
DemographicOuter metropolitan

History edit

 
Billy Hughes, the division's namesake

The division was created in 1955 and is named for Billy Hughes, who was Prime Minister of Australia from 1915 to 1923. Originally a marginal Labor seat, it was taken by the Liberals in their 1966 landslide.[1] However, the Liberal margin was redistributed away in 1968 when most of its Liberal-friendly territory was shifted to newly created Cook, and Labor won it back on a large swing. It remained in Labor hands for the next quarter-century, though it became increasingly marginal from 1984 onward.

It was one of many marginal seats taken by the Liberals in the 1996 landslide. The Liberals have held it ever since – although they came close to losing it in the 2007 Labor landslide – and it is now generally considered to be a safe Liberal seat.[1]

The member for Hughes between the 2010 federal election and the 2022 Australian federal election was Craig Kelly. He served as a Liberal until he resigned from the party to sit as an Independent in February 2021,[2] before joining Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party in August 2021.[3] In the 2022 Australian federal election, the Liberal Party of Australia won the seat back, with Jenny Ware becoming the new MP.

Boundaries edit

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.[4]

The division is located in the southern and southwestern suburbs of Sydney, including Alfords Point, Bangor, Barden Ridge, Bonnet Bay, Bundeena, Como, Engadine, Garie Beach, Grays Point, Hammondville, Heathcote, Holsworthy, Illawong, Jannali, Kareela, Kirrawee, Loftus, Lucas Heights, Maianbar, Menai, Oyster Bay, Pleasure Point, Sandy Point, Sutherland, Voyager Point, Waterfall, Wattle Grove, Woronora, Woronora Heights, and Yarrawarrah; as well as parts of Audley, Gymea, Moorebank, Royal National Park, and Sylvania. The Liverpool Military Area—comprising Holsworthy Barracks and Steele Barracks—is also located in the electorate.

Members edit

Image Member Party Term Notes
    Les Johnson
(1924–2015)
Labor 10 December 1955
26 November 1966
Lost seat
    Don Dobie
(1927–1996)
Liberal 26 November 1966
25 October 1969
Transferred to the Division of Cook
    Les Johnson
(1924–2015)
Labor 25 October 1969
19 December 1983
Served as minister under Whitlam. Resigned to become Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand
    Robert Tickner
(1951–)
Labor 18 February 1984
2 March 1996
Served as minister under Hawke and Keating. Lost seat
    Danna Vale
(1944–)
Liberal 2 March 1996
19 July 2010
Served as minister under Howard. Retired
    Craig Kelly
(1963–)
Liberal 21 August 2010
23 February 2021
Lost seat
  Independent 23 February 2021 –
23 August 2021
  United Australia 23 August 2021 –
21 May 2022
    Jenny Ware Liberal 21 May 2022
present
Incumbent

Election results edit

2022 Australian federal election: Hughes[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jenny Ware 42,148 43.49 −9.67
Labor Riley Campbell 21,828 22.52 −7.94
Independent Georgia Steele 13,891 14.33 +14.33
United Australia Craig Kelly 7,186 7.42 +4.94
Greens Pete Thompson 6,118 6.31 −0.63
Independent Linda Seymour 3,138 3.24 +3.24
One Nation Narelle Seymour 2,600 2.68 +2.68
Total formal votes 96,909 95.67 +0.84
Informal votes 4,387 4.33 −0.84
Turnout 101,296 94.42 −0.40
Two-party-preferred result
Liberal Jenny Ware 55,244 57.01 −2.84
Labor Riley Campbell 41,665 42.99 +2.84
Liberal hold Swing −2.84
The sitting member, Craig Kelly was elected as a Liberal, but resigned from the party in 2021, subsequently joining United Australia.

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Hughes - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". ABC News. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  2. ^ "Craig Kelly quits Liberal party to move to the crossbench". TheGuardian.com. 23 February 2021.
  3. ^ "United Australia Party leader Craig Kelly defends spam messages". 29 August 2021.
  4. ^ Muller, Damon (14 November 2017). "The process of federal redistributions: a quick guide". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  5. ^ Hughes, NSW, 2022 Tally Room, Australian Electoral Commission.

External links edit

33°59′31″S 150°58′30″E / 33.992°S 150.975°E / -33.992; 150.975