Seat of the week: Makin

Held by the Liberals throughout the Howard years, the north-eastern Adelaide seat of Makin swung heavily to Labor in 2007 and 2010, and remains firmly in the party fold despite the 2013 election defeat.

Red and blue numbers respectively indicate booths with two-party majorities for Labor and Liberal. Click for larger image. Map boundaries courtesy of Ben Raue at The Tally Room.

The north-eastern Adelaide seat of Makin extends from Pooraka near the city to Tea Tree Gully and Greenwith at the limits of the metropolitan area. Labor is especially strong in the areas nearer the city, from Walkley Heights north to Salibsury East, beyond which are generally newer suburbs with more mortgage payers and families, who have helped keep the Liberals competitive or better for most of the seat’s history. Together with Kingston in the south of the city and Wakefield in its outer north, Makin is one of three Adelaide seats which the Liberals held in the final term of the Howard government before blowing out to double-digit Labor margins at the 2010 election, and which remain securely in the Labor fold despite the 2013 election defeat. In Makin’s case the Labor margin reached 12.0% in 2010, before the 2013 swing reduced it to 5.1%.

Makin was created with the expansion of parliament in 1984 from an area that had mostly formed the southern end of the safe Labor seat of Bonython, the majority of which was in turn absorbed by Wakefield when it was abolished in 2004. It was held for Labor by uncomfortable margins from 1984 to 1996 by Peter Duncan, a former Attorney-General in Don Dunstan’s state government. A 4.8% swing put Duncan on the Keating government casualty list in 1996, and he returned to the headlines in 2007 after being charged with fraudulently obtaining government grants for his plastics recycling company. The seat was then held for the Liberals by Trish Draper, who emerged as a prime ministerial favourite after strong performances at the next two elections. A swing against Draper of 0.2% in 1998 compared with a statewide swing of 4.2%, and she consolidated her margin by 3.0% in 2001. Draper hit trouble in the lead-up to the 2004 election when it emerged she had breached parliamentary rules by taking a boyfriend on a study trip to Europe at taxpayers’ expense, but she survived by 0.9% in the face of a swing that was not reflected in neighbouring seats. Draper retired at the 2007 election citing an illness in the family, before unsuccessfully attempting a comeback in the state seat of Newland at the March 2010 election.

The seat was then won for Labor on the second attempt by Tony Zappia, who had been the mayor of Salisbury since 1997, a councillor for many years beforehand, and was at one time a weightlifting champion. Zappia was widely thought to have been a victim of his factional non-alignment when the Right’s Julie Woodman defeated him for preselection in 2001, and a repeat performance appeared on the cards when a deal ahead of the 2004 election reserved the seat for Dana Wortley of the “hard Left”. The arrangement displeased local branches as well as party hard-heads concerned that a crucial marginal seat should be contested by the most appealing candidate, and Premier Mike Rann successfully prevailed upon Wortley’s backers to throw their weight behind Zappia. The move appeared a dead end for Zappia in the short term as he proved unable to win the seat, whereas Wortley was elected from the number three Senate position she was offered as consolation. However, Zappia performed considerably better with the electoral breeze at his back in 2007, demolishing the 0.9% Liberal margin with a swing of 8.6%. This was achieved in the face of a high-impact publicity campaign by Liberal candidate Bob Day, housing tycoon and national president of the Housing Industry Association who has since been elected as a Senator for Family First.

The once non-aligned Zappia is now a member of the Left, and is believed to have been a backer of Kevin Rudd’s leadership challenges, and of Anthony Albanese over Bill Shorten in the post-election leadership contest. After spending the period in government on the back bench, he won promotion after the election defeat to shadow parliamentary secretary for manufacturing.

Author: William Bowe

William Bowe is a Perth-based election analyst and occasional teacher of political science. His blog, The Poll Bludger, has existed in one form or another since 2004, and is one of the most heavily trafficked websites on Australian politics.

1,400 comments on “Seat of the week: Makin”

Comments Page 22 of 28
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  1. That is more a jerk, bully or thug than an Alpha Male.

    I think a good example of an Alpha Male was Paul Keating, sure he might be aggressive but it had a purpose, it was about knowing where he was going and wanting to protect it against those who is saw as a threat.

    He had interests outside of politics and yes this is one trait which he shares with Tone.

  2. YB,

    I doubt LSL has actually thought about it. He’s heard the term alpha male, thinks it means something vaguely important and so has labelled Tony with it.

    I have never seen a good definition of what it actually means.

  4. Astrobleme

    I think the term is fine, in truth there are very few actual Alpha Males, Keating himself touched on it when he said Australia hasn’t had a great PM in the Lincoln or Washington mold and sure he was critics but this is another reason why Keating was an Alpha as he said what he thought without fear.

    The term is dirty somewhat by jerks and thugs who like to be seen as something other than they are.

  5. Centre

    If you’re around here’s an article on the recent cool sun media reports.

    http://blog.hotwhopper.com/2014/01/alec-rawls-selects-his-science-its-sun.html

    Showing that the difference between ‘normal’ and ‘cool’ is unable to make much difference to global warming.

    And the paper that did the modelling based on a ‘Maunder Minimum’ style cooling of the sun. Basically it would reduce a 2 degree cooling to 1.7… So not a huge difference, but measurable.

    http://www.pik-potsdam.de/~stefan/Publications/Journals/feulner_rahmstorf_2010.pdf

  10. Astrobleme

    Maybe so, except many of the best leaders in history have had a nasty side particularly towards their enemies.

  11. A shit bomb has been set and the timer started.

    [Attorney-General George Brandis has given an extraordinary undertaking not to read highly sensitive documents seized by ASIO agents in a raid on East Timor’s lawyer last year as Australia tries to thwart the fledgling nation’s bid in the International Court of Justice to have the material returned.]

    http://www.smh.com.au/national/george-brandis-vows-not-to-read-documents-asio-seized-20140120-314pq.html

  12. The term ‘alpha make’ originates from the study of social animals, e.g. Great Apes, Wolves, etc. the term seems to have escaped Zoology to be applied to humans in the past year or so. I once saw it applied to ‘Big Brother’ contestants.

  14. Tetchy @ 1063 – Apologies – I meant past decade or so. I don’t remember the term from the last century but maybe I missed it.

  16. Corporations and the right wing have complained about unions, legislation and regulations since they were told slavery was banned

  17. [doubt Tone would regard himself as an “intellectual”]

    For Abbott, to be described as “intellectual” would be an insult. He is a champion of the anti-intellectual tradition in rightist politics. He rejects reason in favour of populist deceits, blaming and strategies of division. Frankly, to discuss intelligence and Abbott at the same time is to mock all the achievements of learning, scholarship and creative endeavour.

  18. Steve777 yes it does come from Zoology and like many words gets caught in a fad and is sometimes used outside of its meaning.

    Many words like Great and Champion are overused and now Alpha seems to have joined them.

    Making it worst is the term is used by so called Men’s groups who like to bang on about the traditional role of men in society.

  19. briefly

    When it comes to Abbott this guy is the key. From his high school days this was his mentor . He was the first person Abbott rang when he became LOTO.

    [Father Emmet Costello, who was pastoral adviser to the great and the good, and to those, like Abbott, who seemed destined for leadership. Costello was a Bentley-driving conservative from a wealthy family with large landholdings in the Pacific…….
    Costello not only identified Abbott as a future leader but also advised one-time Liberal attorney-general and godfather of the Australian bar, Tom Hughes, during periods of religious doubt. Costello also tended to the spiritual needs of Turnbull, a Catholic convert who married Hughes’s daughter, Lucy. Abbott says Costello has been very significant in a lot of lives:]
    http://www.afr.com/p/lifestyle/afrmagazine/tony_abbott_higher_calling_aNGk1uJKD26R4KQ6TWkbJJ

  20. TTFB re my 1064: apologies again. I failed to notice that predictive text mangled my attempt to type the initials of your user name.

  21. I suppose I must be a bit of a PBaholic as it is very difficult to stay away from what is, in the main, a very informative, educated and entertaining blog (a difficult combination, I think).

    An email from a fellow PB’er piqued my interest, however, and I came on to read about the kerfuffle over a certain poster’s comments and the consequences.

    Whether that poster is permanently banned or only in the sin bin for a while is neither here nor there but the comment made was truly beyond the pale.

    There are many wonderful contributors on here, full or erudition,wit, knowledge and great debating skills. I’m afraid I don’t count myself in that illustrious company as my innate shyness has always been a bit of a handicap and I don’t really feel qualified to get into the hurly-burly of political debate.

    There are too many to mention so please take a collective bow if I have left you out but I’d like to say a special thank you to BK (for my daily hit of news headlines), Mari, Fran, Victoria, guytaur, confessions, bemused, lizzie, leone and many others.

    Oh and Don, you’ll be pleased to know (or totally disinterested) that I didn’t injure my posterior on the way out from my last posting! Thanks for your kind thoughts though.

    Special thanks, obviously, to William for putting up with both the white and the black sheep of the family, for that is actually what I think of PB – a sort of “cyber” family.

  22. Astrobleme@1052

    YB,

    I doubt LSL has actually thought about it. He’s heard the term alpha male, thinks it means something vaguely important and so has labelled Tony with it.

    I have never seen a good definition of what it actually means.

    That’s because it a term mainly used in Primate and Canine hierarchies – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_%28ethology%29

    So LSL is essentially equating Abbott to either an ape or a dog.

    I thought William was supposed to ban people for that kind of thing these days?

  24. Ok some helpfull advise from some fellow PB’s would be greatly appreciated.
    On another forum, I am in the middle of a “discussion” with a vile racist, who is quoting from a group called “world watch Monitor” to support his argument that “christians” are the most persecuted group in the world.
    I was hoping that someone here could shed any light on just who “world watch monitor” actually are ?
    Has any one had any experience of this group ?
    Bare in mind that this person, constantly quotes from Bill Mhulenbergs (sp) to justify, what are, his daily rants against Muslims, aboriginals, homsexuals, et al.

    Thanks and appreciation in advance

  25. Sticking with the theme of discussing Abbott –

    He’s all smuggler and no budgie.

    The word to describe him is IDIOT.

    No more needs to be said about him

  28. Allan Moyes@1071
    Gee Allan, I am a bit chuffed to earn an honourable mention in your list.

    I can’t recall you ever posting anything that wasn’t sensible and worth reading. One of the quiet achievers perhaps?

    Cheers! 😀

  31. Anyone here who isn’t watching Sir Eli Lauterpacht tearing strips off Australia on behalf of East Timor in the ICJ (streamed through the Court’s website) is missing the best show in town tonight.

  34. Christopher Pyne’s revised history curriculum

    [https://twitter.com/PeterFosterALP/status/425199390332968960/photo/1]

  35. YB

    The most persecuted group in the world are poor people, regardless of religion. Annual mortality amongst such people is around 5,000,000 who starve to death and anything up to 1,000,000,000 who go to bed hungry every night.

    Since most poor people are not christians it follows that christians are not the most persecuted group on earth.

    The second most persecuted group on earth would probably be women.

    Since most women are not christian, it follows that christians are not the most persecuted group on earth.

    The third most persectued group on earth would probably by children.

    Since most children are not christian, it follows that christians not the most persectued group on earth.

  36. thanks poroti @ 1069

    For Abbott, ambition, destiny, duty and conservatism are all woven together, it seems. Whatever he says of himself, by his acts we can see that power exists to be grasped; and is to be wielded first to lay his enemies to waste and second to destroy their achievements. He is no builder. He is a smasher. We have seen none like him that I can recall.

  37. [In his statement, Vice Admiral Griggs said that the current generation of navy personnel are “worthy of more respect than had been show to them in the past few weeks”.]

    So when is he going to demand an apology from Scott Morrison. Or act like the Chief of Army “The standard you walk by is the standard you accept”.

    I doubt Lieutenant-General Morrison would allow the army to be used for political ends.

  38. don

    [Boerwar@963

    I think that William should inaugerate a Crikey competition to identify Abbott’s most appealing appalling feature or characteristic.

    Fixed that for you.]

    There was not a lot of enthusiasm for the terms of the original competition.

  39. Yesiree Bob@1074

    Ok some helpfull advise from some fellow PB’s would be greatly appreciated.
    On another forum, I am in the middle of a “discussion” with a vile racist, who is quoting from a group called “world watch Monitor” to support his argument that “christians” are the most persecuted group in the world.
    I was hoping that someone here could shed any light on just who “world watch monitor” actually are ?
    Has any one had any experience of this group ?
    Bare in mind that this person, constantly quotes from Bill Mhulenbergs (sp) to justify, what are, his daily rants against Muslims, aboriginals, homsexuals, et al.

    Thanks and appreciation in advance

    Try their website: http://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/aboutus

    The gentleman you name is a fundy nutter who has letters occasionally published in the Age. And, surprise surprise, he has his own website. http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/

  42. Poroti, BW, Bemused thanks for your info.
    Yes, the person who quotes from these sites has a definite agenda against some of the most vulnerable people in our midst.

    It’s rather sad just how neurotic some people are, and how much of a chip these people have against those worse off than they are

  43. Tony Abbott is a sexist, racist, misogynist thug who lacks compassion, loyalty and can be very rude to people.

    He is the most inappropriate and unsuitable misfit of a PM that this country has ever had.

    Intellectually?

    He needs to speak very slowly, carefully think every word before he speaks, uuuums and aaaars and bobs his head under stress.

    His intelligence has been put to the test on many occasions and has failed miserably each time such as interviews with Kerry O’Brien, Lisa Wilkins and Leigh Sales.

    But if you really want to judge the intellect of Tony Abbott, refer to his debate on health against Kevin Rudd.

    As for numeracy?

    I have more betting intelligence in one shaven three day facial hair growth than he has in economics.

  45. [Anyone here who isn’t watching Sir Eli Lauterpacht tearing strips off Australia on behalf of East Timor in the ICJ (streamed through the Court’s website) is missing the best show in town tonight.]

    Are we meant to enjoy the sight of some foreigner slagging off our country?

  47. I think borderline sociopath sums up Abbott.

    Think about it. What happened when he was caught out lying? His response was wtte “oo.. that’s bad.. ” (unstated “for me”). Basically he doesn’t understand the badness of lying, just the usefulness. He does have feelings, but only for himself.

  48. [1074
    Yesiree Bob

    Ok some helpfull advise from some fellow PB’s would be greatly appreciated.
    On another forum, I am in the middle of a “discussion” with a vile racist, who is quoting from a group called “world watch Monitor” to support his argument that “christians” are the most persecuted group in the world.]

    Perhaps it would be worth pointing out that persecution is not a contest. There are no prizes to be won for suffering. There’s nothing to choose between the anguish of a Muslim or a Christian or a Hindu. Hunger doesn’t speak any particular tongue or pray only in churches or temples.

  50. Leisure Suit Larry@1095

    Anyone here who isn’t watching Sir Eli Lauterpacht tearing strips off Australia on behalf of East Timor in the ICJ (streamed through the Court’s website) is missing the best show in town tonight.


    Are we meant to enjoy the sight of some foreigner slagging off our country?

    A more appropriate reaction might be cold anger at those who have dragged our country down to this level.

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