Electoral district of Murray-Wellington

Murray-Wellington is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia. The seat's current member is Labor MLA Robyn Clarke.

Murray-Wellington
Western AustraliaLegislative Assembly
Location of Murray-Wellington (dark green) in Western Australia
StateWestern Australia
Dates current1890–present1
MPRobyn Clarke
PartyLabor
NamesakeMurray River; Wellington Land District
Electors28,967 (2019)
Area4,320 km2 (1,668.0 sq mi)
DemographicSouth West
Footnotes
1 known as Murray 1890–1911, 1950–1983, 1989–1996, 2005–2008

Originally known as Murray, it was one of the original 30 seats contested at the 1890 election. The district is a regional electorate situated between Mandurah and Bunbury. The seat has alternated between the names Murray and Murray-Wellington to reflect its geography.

The seat has been a traditional stronghold for the Liberal Party, having been won only twice by the Labor Party.

Geography

In its present configuration, Murray-Wellington is a coastal electorate running from the eastern outskirts of Mandurah to the northern outskirts of Bunbury. It covers three local government areas – Shire of Murray, Shire of Waroona and the Shire of Harvey – including all of the latter two and the vast geographic majority of the former. Its major population centres include the towns of Dwellingup, Harvey, North Dandalup, North Yunderup, Pinjarra, South Yunderup and Waroona as well as the northern Bunbury suburbs of Australind and Leschenault.

History

The seat of Murray-Wellington (or Murray) has traditionally been a stronghold of the Liberal Party and its predecessor parties, but became a marginal seat held by Labor following the 2017 state election. The district's most famous member was Ross McLarty, Premier of Western Australia between 1947 and 1953, who held the seat from 1930 to 1962.

The seat's current Labor member, Robyn Clarke, arrived as a result of the 2017 state election. The seat's only other Labor member, Keith Read, won the vacant seat at the 1989 state election, even as his father and then Labor MP John Read was defeated in the neighbouring seat of Mandurah. Keith Read was defeated at the 1993 state election.

Members for Murray-Wellington

Murray (1890–1911)
MemberPartyTerm
  William Paterson Non-aligned 1890–1895
  William George Opposition 1895–1902
  William Atkins Independent 1902–1904
  John McLarty Ministerial 1904–1909
  William George Ministerial 1909–1911
Murray-Wellington (1911–1950)
  William George Liberal 1911–1917
  Nationalist 1917–1930
  Ross McLarty Nationalist 1930–1945
  Liberal 1945–1949
  Liberal Country League 1949–1950
Murray (1950–1983)
  Ross McLarty Liberal Country League 1950–1962
  Ewart Runciman Liberal Country League 1962–1968
  Liberal 1968–1974
  Richard Shalders Liberal 1974–1983
Murray-Wellington (1983–1989)
  John Bradshaw Liberal 1983–1989
Murray (1989–1996)
  Keith Read Labor 1989–1993
  Arthur Marshall Liberal 1993–1996
Murray-Wellington (1996–2005)
  John Bradshaw Liberal 1996–2005
Murray (2005–2008)
  Murray Cowper Liberal 2005–2008
Murray-Wellington (2008–present)
  Murray Cowper Liberal 2008–2017
  Robyn Clarke Labor 2017–present

Election results

2017 Western Australian state election: Murray-Wellington[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor Robyn Clarke 8,484 36.1 +7.9
Liberal Murray Cowper 6,910 29.4 −20.5
One Nation Ross Slater 2,652 11.3 +11.3
National Paul Gillett 2,628 11.2 −0.2
Shooters, Fishers, Farmers Mark McCall 1,516 6.4 +6.4
Greens Callum Burwood 1,061 4.5 −1.1
Flux the System! Daniel Radley 274 1.2 +1.2
Total formal votes 23,525 94.9 +1.8
Informal votes 1,275 5.1 −1.8
Turnout 24,800 88.5 +3.0
Two-party-preferred result
Labor Robyn Clarke 12,082 51.4 +13.4
Liberal Murray Cowper 11,430 48.6 −13.4
Labor gain from Liberal Swing+13.4

References

  1. Murray-Wellington District Profile and Results, 2017 State General Election, WAEC.
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