LIB 17.5%
Incumbent MP
Malcolm Kerr, since 1984.
Geography
Southern Sydney. Cronulla covers parts of Sutherland Shire, including the suburbs of Kurnell, Woolooware, Cronulla, Burraneer, Port Hacking, Lilli Pilli, Caringbah, Yowie Bay and Taren Point.
History
The district of Cronulla has existed since 1959. In that time, it has been won by the Liberal Party at all but two elections.
Cronulla was first won in 1959 by Liberal MP Ian Griffith. He had won the seat of Sutherland in 1956, and moved to the new seat of Cronulla after the redistribution shifted Sutherland into Labor areas.
Griffith served as a minister from 1972 to 1975, and again for the final few months of the Coalition government in 1976. Griffith lost Liberal preselection in 1978 and retired.
The ALP’s Michael Egan won Cronulla in 1978. He was re-elected in 1981, but lost in 1984. Egan was elected to the Legislative Council in 1986. He became Treasurer when the ALP won power in 1995, serving in the role until his retirement in 2005.
Egan was defeated in 1984 by Liberal candidate Malcolm Kerr. He has held the seat ever since.
Candidates
- Mark Speakman (Liberal)
- Stefanie Jones (Labor)
- Josh Peacock (Greens)
- Beth Smith (Christian Democratic Party)
- Patricia Poulos (Independent)
Political situation
Cronulla is a very safe Liberal seat.
2007 result
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % | Swing |
| Malcolm Kerr | LIB | 24,339 | 56.7 | +10.7 |
| Paul Constance | ALP | 11,195 | 26.1 | -3.1 |
| Naomi Waizer | GRN | 2,948 | 6.9 | +1.5 |
| Beth Smith | CDP | 1,963 | 4.6 | +2.1 |
| Warren Feinbier | AAFI | 1,299 | 3.0 | +1.2 |
| John Moffat | IND | 1,193 | 2.8 | +2.7 |
2007 two-candidate-preferred result
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % | Swing |
| Malcolm Kerr | LIB | 26,363 | 67.5 | +8.7 |
| Paul Constance | ALP | 12,708 | 32.5 | -8.7 |
Booth breakdown
Booths in Cronulla have been divided into three areas: Cronulla in the east, Sylvania in the northwest, and Caringbah in the southwest.
The Liberal Party’s two-party-preferred margin varied from 69% in Caringbah to 65.7% in Sylvania.
| Voter group | GRN % | LIB 2CP % | Total votes | % of votes |
| Caringbah | 6.2 | 69.1 | 17,133 | 39.9 |
| Cronulla | 8.5 | 66.5 | 11,948 | 27.8 |
| Sylvania | 4.5 | 65.7 | 5,354 | 12.5 |
| Other votes | 7.4 | 66.1 | 8,502 | 19.8 |
Beth Smith is running again here for the CDP.
My prediction: Liberal retain, 5-10% swing.
There is also an independent candidate for this seat, Patricia Poulos, no idea who she is though?!?! I’d like to know, def not voting labor or greens, don’t think liberals are great either and i’m not even sure if Speakman lives in the electorate, although he did grow up here?
Scott – just walk in there mate. Get your name crossed off. Put the ballot in the box. And then walk out. It won’t make one bit of difference here. Actually, I’d be pleased if you voted ALP. There are some suggestions that they will be lucky to get 8000 votes here according to the federal member.
@ DB – Regarding the ALP being lucky to get 8000 votes, this is KKKrounlla after all, hardly Labor territory. I’m a Liberal supporter, but given the riots back in ’05 and the member for the overlapping federal seat, KKKook, is SKKKott Morrison, I think my description is quite accurate!
My apologies in advance to those people in Cronulla/surrounding areas that aren’t bigots.
Matt – forget what you hear in the media. I know Scott well and he is a moderate. He is part of the wet ‘faction’.
He’s been a tool as the Shadow Immigration Minister however.
Hence why I spelt his name with the Ks.
Not sure who Patricia Poulos is, but she has been a frequent candidate at past state and federal elections.
I fail to understand why independents run and don’t campaign or even make a website
What a shame you have no idea who Patricia Poulos is! Just Google her name and have a history lesson.
Your comment just goes to show your lack of political prowess. Poulos has stood for the seats of Cook and Cronulla since 1987. She held a ‘Rally for the Nation’ on 16 August 1986 (probably before you were born).
Alas, it is this lack of knowledge and foresight which has rendered Australians jobless and homeless. But then again, you have no knowledge of this either.
Sarah – Cronulla
Hi Sarah
I’m not sure who you are either, but there is no need for such obnoxious personal attacks when you have no idea who I am.
I did plenty of googling actually and found a little, but one would think candidates would make theri info easier to find. But anyway its game day, just voted at Yowie Bay. Don’t imagine anything exciting will happen in this seat but was suprised to see representatives from LIB ALP CDP and GRN all waving paper at voters. Suprised smaller parties have enough people to send to small booths.