Seat of the week: Wide Bay

Warren Truss’s seat of Wide Bay encompasses Noosa, Gympie and Maryborough, and has been in National/Country Party hands for most of an existence that dates back to federation.

Wide Bay has covered a variable area around Maryborough about 300 kilometres north of Brisbane since its creation at federation. Maryborough is currently at the northern end of an electorate that extends south along the coast to Noosa, which was gained at the redistribution before the 2007 election as its southern neighbour Fairfax was drawn southwards by population growth on the Sunshine Coast (which Wide Bay accommodated in its entirety for most of the period prior to 1949). The electorate also extends inland through Gympie to Murgon and Cherbourg.

Now a secure seat for the Liberal National Party, Wide Bay was one of 15 seats across the country won by Labor at the first election in 1901. Its member from then until 1915 was Andrew Fisher, who served three terms as prime minister and won the party’s first parliamentary majority at the election of 1910. Labor was narrowly defeated at a by-election held after Fisher retired due to ill health, and for the next 13 years the seat was held by Edward Corser, first as a Liberal and then in the Nationalist Party that succeeded it in 1917. The seat passed to the Country Party upon Corser’s death in 1928, when his son Bernard Corser was elected as the party’s candidate without opposition.

Teal and red numbers respectively indicate size of two-party majorities for the LNP and Labor. Click for larger image. Map boundaries courtesy of Ben Raue at The Tally Room.

Brendan Hansen’s election in 1961 gave Labor its first win in Wide Bay in nearly half a century, and he retained the seat until defeated amid a statewide swing against the Whitlam government in 1974. The seat has has since had two National/Country Party members, the present incumbent Warren Truss succeeding Clarrie Millar in 1990. The general trend over this time has been for increasing Nationals margins, with Truss retaining the seat by 8.5% amid Labor’s strong statewide result in 2007 and boosting his margin to 15.6% in 2010, before a narrowing to 13.2% at the 2013 election.

Warren Truss emerged through local Nationals ranks as a councillor for the Shire of Kingaroy from 1976 to 1990, before winning the party’s endorsement to succeed Joh Bjelke-Petersen as member for Barambah at the by-election which followed his retirement in 1988. However, Truss suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Trevor Perrett, a candidate of the eccentric Citizens Electoral Council who joined the Nationals a year later. He was amply compensated with endorsement for Wide Bay at the federal election two years later, and was elected without incident despite a 3.9% swing to Labor.

Truss served as a junior shadow minister in the consumer affairs portfolio after November 1994, but was cut from the front bench when the Nationals’ reduced share of seats within the Coalition reduced its share of the spoils of the 1996 election victory. His opportunity came in October the following year when the travel rorts affair garnered three ministerial scalps including Nationals MP John Sharp, resulting in Truss’s return to the consumer affairs portfolio together with customs. After the 1998 election he was reassigned to community services, and he then attained cabinet rank in July 1999 with his promotion to Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister. In July 2005 he secured his party’s deputy leadership and traded his portfolios for transport and regional services, and was again reassigned to trade in September 2006.

Truss was elevated to the leadership of the National Party when Mark Vaile resigned in the wake of the 2007 election defeat, although it has often been noted that his profile is a good deal lower than that of Barnaby Joyce, who moved from a Queensland Senate seat to the New South Wales lower house seat of New England at the 2013 election. As well as being Deputy Prime Minister, Truss has served as Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development since the election of the Abbott government.

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.

1,168 comments on “Seat of the week: Wide Bay”

Comments Page 3 of 24
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  1. [Anyone want to address that rather than just the usual anti-Semitic rants?]

    See more comedy gold. But if they want to find a solution that doesn’t involve murdering children and women perhaps keep the almost totally effective shield against the pathetic ineffective bombs up.

  7. Anyway ModLib you have done both Adam a service and given me a great big laugh.

    Abbott best friend of the unemployed….
    Israel best friend of the innocent civilian …

    Absurdity humor … but I’m off to watch some kids play soccer so I’ll miss wherever you take this comedy masterpiece.

  8. Everything

    Thank dog for that. I’ll tell these guys to relax , climate change is crap and it must be all in their imagination.

    [Heat is intensifying the drought. California is having its warmest year on record, by far………

    On Thursday, 58 percent of California was declared under exceptional drought, the most severe classification and a shocking 22 percent increase from the previous week

    This historic drought, of course, extends well beyond California through parts of the Colorado River Basin and into the western Plains.]
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2014/08/01/downright-dismal-images-of-the-western-drought-a-record-setter-in-california/

  9. [Steve777
    Posted Sunday, August 3, 2014 at 9:43 am | PERMALINK
    Re Everything @100: so what’s your point?]

    My point is that I am freezing.

    [You’re smarter than that.]

    Rubbish!

  10. Everything “What we see is hatred of Abbott.”
    The word Hate is one of the far rights weapon of choice to stifle debate. Its like “shut up and do as I say”

    I don’t hate Abbott and I am sure very few if any PBs would go to that extreme. One should not confuse hate with disagreeing with a political ideology. Nor should it be confused with concern for our future or of refugees.

  11. In answer to everything’s question at 97
    I think an eye for eye is a defensible policy, with both justice and religion on its side. And it would have saved 1400 lives.

  12. Keyman:

    I completely disagree.

    PB is full of hate. I have been told specifically that someone here hates me. There is so much hate directed against Abbott here, I find it quite remarkable that you are claiming “few if any PBs would go to that extreme”, but I guess that is a matter of opinion.

    I have ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM with PBs to criticise political policies, as you say, including refugee policies. However, what we see here is PBers claiming ALP credit for the success in boat reductions as the LNP has done nothing different (apparently) while simultaneously claiming that Abbott and Morrisson are criminal for how they treat asylum seeker people, whereas no such criticism is made of the ALP.

  15. [Phil Vee
    Posted Sunday, August 3, 2014 at 9:52 am | PERMALINK
    In answer to everything’s question at 97]

    Yes, it seems folk here are struggling to answer that question @ 97…….

  16. I don’t hate Tony Abbott. Indeed I wish fir Tony what I wish for myself – a long and happy retirement, in his case starting today.

  17. [The thing about Morrison is that he actually appears to be ENJOYING the bad things he is doing.]

    It’s the smirk that gives it away.

  18. Well, we have come a long way this morning already, if we have unanimous agreement that we don’t hate Abbott.

    I should hang around more often if we make this much progress when I am here! *

    * fear not, I’m just kidding, my return has just re-affirmed my views of the superficiality of the echo chamber

  20. [Everything:
    Hmmmm……a few weeks away and I see Abbott is still being underestimated here!]

    You are so inane and predictable. It’s hard to imagine how Abbott could be ‘underestimated’. He simply has no worth or skill that admits a significant estimation. Beyond being a mannequin of scoundrels, what would anyone who took ideas seriously want to say about him?

    And even allowing, purely for the sake of argument, that it were possible to underestimate some skill or resource Abbott could deploy, what would be the cost of that?

    In your answer, please cite the particular skill or resource in question and how the failure if folk here to value it accurately might come to cost them or social progress more generally. Also, please illustrate specifically how your more accurate valuation has contributed to better public policy, or at least, laid the foundations for it.

    Let’s see what you have.

  22. BK

    Yep, he positively salivates whenever he gets to describe the latest way he has found to poke refugees with a sharp stick.

  23. The cuts Abbott/Hockey/Corman didn’t mention;

    From Penny Wong;
    Senator Cormann’s response shows 112 programs across ten portfolios will be hit by an indexation freeze for up to four years (attached).

    The hidden cuts include:
    •$30.3 million from health programs including the National Immunisation Strategy, the National Depression Initiative, and mental health services like counselling, support for children and better access to psychiatrists and GPs;
    •$15.9 million from education and training, including cuts to programs to improve the quality of teaching in schools, civics and citizenship education and the Industry Workforce Training program;
    •$28.9 million in cuts to aged care programs to improve the quality and standards of care for elderly people living in nursing homes;
    •$26.4 million in cuts from the Family Relationship Services program which offers support and education to separated parents including counselling and dispute resolution.

    In addition, the cuts will hit programs giving people with disabilities better access to university education, supporting indigenous education and aged care, and promoting regional development.

    These latest cuts will only exacerbate the negative impact of this cruel Budget on Australians.

  27. New2This

    [
    PB is full of hate towards Abbott]
    CRAP ! We positively adore Abbott. Abbott represents the nation’s best chance for the Coalition to be a one term wonder. What’s not to love about that ?

  28. [Fran Barlow
    …..You are so inane and predictable.]

    Perhaps why I enjoy my time here among friends?

    [ It’s hard to imagine how Abbott could be ‘underestimated’.]

    Excellent point. I am completely wrong to say that Abbott is underestimated as the estimation of him is zero, so he can’t be underestimated……..oh wait…….

    [And even allowing, purely for the sake of argument, that it were possible to underestimate some skill or resource Abbott could deploy, what would be the cost of that?]

    OK, for the “sake of argument”, lets say Abbott has some skill or resource. What would that be? Well, it turns out he DOES actually have “people skills”. I laughed out loud when I heard him say that, but it appears he was right!

    Thanks Fran, your inane post seals the validity of my original claim!

  29. Re 109: Sydney’s ‘official’ temperatures at Observatory Hill are hopelessly heat-island affected except on sunny afternoons in warmer months when the sea breeze takes over. Sydney Olympic Park (2.2), Bankstown (2.9) and Sydney Airport (4.9) would be more representative of what most Sydney people actually experienced.

    Of course you could use Camden (-2.2) or Richmond (-1.5), both near sea level about 55km from the CBD, to ‘prove’ that global warming is crap. Were I to argue like Climate Change Deniers, I could use stats at Obsevatory Hill to ‘prove’ catastrophic warming in the past 100 years.

  31. [New2This
    Posted Sunday, August 3, 2014 at 10:10 am | PERMALINK
    To deny the hatred on here is delusional…]

    Lucky we have overflowing delusion to dish out here then, eh?
    :devil:

  32. [Almost all the free relationship counselling vouchers under the Social Services Minister’s scheme to introduce more harmony in Australians’ love lives are still up for grabs]

    We’ll be happy to help them out. A $200 voucher for a night out at a fancy restaurant should do wonders for our relationship.

  35. Another hit from “the world’s most ethical army”. Bastards.

    [Scientist who studied at Manchester University killed in Israeli shell attack on UN car in Gaza

    Dr Bashir al-Hajjar died alongside his younger brother Muneer during the strike in Beer al-Naja in the north of the region. They were travelling in a marked United Nations Relief and Works Agency car when shells landed in front of it and on its bonnet

    ………..Dr al-Hajjar, a father-of-one, died instantly – while Muneer, who worked for the UN, lived for six minutes as he begged rescuers to help his brother and not him.

    Muneer’s eight-year-old son, also in the vehicle, survived but has been left with serious leg injuries.

    Dr al-Hajjar, 47, lived in Rusholme with wife Iman and daughter Sathia, 13, between 2010 and 2013 while he completed a PhD in Mental Health Nursing – writing a thesis on stress among hospital nurses in Gaza. He has three PhDs …]

    http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/dr-bashir-al-hajjar-scientist-who-7546204

  36. Just what we need – another deranged defender of Israel’s policy of the murder of children as a means of achieving its military objectives.

  39. Everything@97

    I am still yet to see any suggestion for what Israel ought to do while missiles rain down on them.

    Anyone want to address that rather than just the usual anti-Semitic rants?

    The only anti-Semitic rants I regularly read are those, such as yours, ranting against that authentically Semitic people, the Palestinians.

  41. Poroti

    I think the AS debate is all some sort of game for Morrison.

    He enjoys the verbal jousting. Remember when there were reports that 153 asylum seekers had been picked up. He positively sneered at reporters in denying it. Of course they were wrong, as he later revealed there were 157.

    he no doubt thinks he is clever and doubtless there are Tories who think he is great. I just think he is a very ordinary human being.

    He no doubt thinks this shows his potential as a future leader. I have my doubts even his fellow howling at the moon right wingers would tolerate him.

    Peter FitzSimons gives that extract from his maiden speech about being a Christian a run again in the
    Sun Herald today. It is stomach turning

  42. Everything

    They started “raining down” A-F-T-E-R Israel moved in and started arresting hundreds and killing a number of Palestinians in Gaza on the , what now appears a trumped up, charge that Hamas kidnapped and murdered an Israeli teenager.

  43. Abbott’s Budget is still in limbo nearly three months after its launch. According to laurie Oakes yesterday, when the Budget was released 61% thought it unfair. After weeks of clever political management, only 63% of the voters think the Budget was unfair.

    Looks like the electorate is all out of love for Tony Abbott.

  44. Re Everything @97: to suggest that the Palestinians have been getting a raw deal or that Israel has been anything less than an exemplary global citizen deserving of our unconditional support is not an ‘anti semitic rant’.

    As to what Israel should do? Well, the current actions will not stop the rockets. Possibly the Israelis are hoping to ground Hanas down over years and decades. Maybe they are hoping to persuade the civilian population to rise up against Hamas and kick them out and accept a role as second class citizens in an occupied country as the least worst option. That’s not happening any time soon.

    Boerwar had some suggestions @715 on the previous thread: http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/2014/07/31/bludgertrack-52-1-47-9-to-labor/?comment_page=15/#comments

    The drawback of that plan is that it requires rationality and good will on the part of both sides, qualities that seem to be in very short supply, but something like this is the only way that the wider Israel-Palestine conflict could end well. I would also add Israel to stop expanding settlements, hand back some land themselves, dismantle recent settlements and make a believable promise to start pulling down that wall.

  46. rossmcg

    Thanks for he link. Morrison must have moved to opposite world when you read what he said then. Fitz also had a joke which looks to have come direct from badcat’s play book 🙂

    [This bloke from up the back of Bourke, see, has just finished loading a couple of cartons of beer into the back of his ute and is just about to start the engine when he’s approached by an extremely attractive young woman who asks him if he’d like to swap beer for sex. He looks at her for a few seconds and then says. “What sort of beer have you got, love?”]

  47. On Insiders it was instructive to watch “Smiling Joe” parry questions about the outcome of his talks with Lambie. “She’s a lovely woman” type answers must have been part of his “charm offensive”. Didn’t charm me, Joe. It’s like the smile on the dial of the crocodile.

  49. Shorter Everything:

    Abbott has people skills. (Unspecified and unquantified). Everything can’t link these ‘people skills’ to an obstacle encountered by people here, or say how people here recognising them would advance any worthy goal or indeed, any goal Everything might endorse.

    As I said, Everything, your posts are inane and predictable (oh, and as I note above, uttering the Fox News preferred defence of war crimes by the IDF).

    It really is astonishing that anyone who professes to respect ideas could carry on as you do here.

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