Division of Nicholls

The Division of Nicholls is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria, which was contested for the first time at the 2019 federal election.

Nicholls
Australian House of Representatives Division
Location of Nicholls (dark green) in Victoria, Australia
Created2019
NamesakeSir Douglas Nicholls
Lady Gladys Nicholls
Electors111,170 (2019)
Area14,768 km2 (5,702.0 sq mi)
DemographicRural

History
A statue of Sir Douglas and Lady Gladys Nicholls, the division's namesakes

The division is named in honour of Sir Douglas and Lady Gladys Nicholls, in recognition of their contributions to the advocacy of Aboriginal rights.

The Division of Nicholls was created in 2019 after the Australian Electoral Commission oversaw a mandatory redistribution of divisions in Victoria.[1] Nicholls replaced the Division of Murray in the same location. It is located in the north of the state, adjoining the Murray River, which forms Victoria's border with New South Wales and includes the towns of Shepparton, Yarrawonga, Seymour and Broadford.[2]

Prior to the 2019 election the seat was notionally held by the National Party on a margin of 22.3%, making it a very safe seat for the party.[3] Its predecessor had been safely conservative for nearly its entire existence since its creation in 1949, with the Liberal Party and the National Party holding it for long spells. Indeed, much of this region has been held by a conservative party since Federation; the area was part of the Division of Echuca from 1901 to 1937, then Indi from 1937 to 1949.

The final member for Murray, Damian Drum of the Nationals, followed most of his constituents into Nicholls and easily retained it, albeit with a small swing against him.

Members
Image Member Party Term Notes
  Damian Drum
(1960–)		 Nationals 18 May 2019 –
present		 Previously held the Division of Murray. Incumbent

Election Results
Main article: Electoral results for the Division of Nicholls
This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2019 Australian federal election in Victoria § Nicholls[edit]
2019 Australian federal election: Nicholls[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Damian Drum 48,855 51.27 +18.58
Labor Bill Lodwick 18,493 19.41 +2.32
One Nation Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell 10,754 11.29 +11.29
United Australia Stewart Hine 5,077 5.33 +5.33
Independent Andrew Bock 4,581 4.81 +3.39
Greens Nickee Freeman 4,011 4.21 −0.23
Independent Jeremy Parker 1,772 1.86 +1.86
Independent Nigel Hicks 1,749 1.84 +1.00
Total formal votes 95,292 92.54 +1.16
Informal votes 7,679 7.46 −1.16
Turnout 102,971 92.65 −0.80
Two-party-preferred result
National Damian Drum 66,732 70.03 −2.49
Labor Bill Lodwick 28,560 29.97 +2.49
National hold Swing−2.49

References
  1. "Names and boundaries of federal electoral divisions in Victoria decided". Australian Electoral Commission. 20 June 2018.
  2. "Map: Division of Nicholls" (PDF). Australian Electoral Commission.
  3. "2017-18 Federal Redistributions - Victoria". ABC Elections. 20 June 2018.
  4. Nicholls, VIC, Tally Room 2019, Australian Electoral Commission.
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