Thornlie

Margin: Labor 2.0%
Region: East Metropolitan
Federal: Burt (98%); Canning (2%)
Renamed from Gosnells in redistribution

RESULTS AT 2013 ELECTION
HISTORICAL TWO-PARTY RESULTS
PREVIOUS ELECTION RESULTS MAP

Candidates in ballot paper order

ROB COALES Liberal (centre) SANDY BARAIOLO One Nation ANDREW VAN DAM Flux the System SIBEL BENNETT Micro Business Party GARY HAMMOND Shooters Fishers and Farmers MADELEINE GOIRAN Australian Christians CHRIS TALLENTIRE Labor (top) DONNA McALEESE Greens (bottom)

The south-eastern Perth seat of Thornlie is essentially a new name for the abolished seat of Gosnells, from which it absorbs nearly 20,000 voters in the suburbs of Thornlie and Gosnells. To the north-east, the suburb of Maddington is added for a gain of 5300 voters from Kalamunda and nearly 1000 from Forrestfield, while in the west, nearly 1000 voters in the north-western part of Thorlie are gained from Cannington. The name change reflects the fact the southern half of Gosnells, home to nearly 6000 voters, has been transferred to Southern River. The changes have been slightly to Labor's disadvantage, cutting 0.9% from the margin.

The expansion of post-war sprawl into the area of today's electorate resulted in the creation of Gosnells in 1977, which underwent changes of name to Thornlie in 1989 and Kenwick in 2005. Labor's hold has never slackened, despite modest winning margins of 0.9% in 1977, 1.5% in 1996 and 2.9% in 2013. Bob Pearce held Gosnells for Labor from 1977 until 1983, when he moved to Armadale and was succeeded in Gosnells by Yvonne Henderson. Sheila McHale succeeded Henderson in what was now Thornlie in 1996, and would eventually retire as member for Kenwick in 2008.

Gosnells has been held for the past two terms by former Conservation Council of Western Australia director Chris Tallentire, who will now contest Thornlie. Tallentire was part of Alan Carpenter's contentious contingent of hand-picked candidates in 2008, but is now aligned with the United Voice sub-faction of the Left. He has served in shadow cabinet in the environment portfolio throughout the current term.