Wakehurst – NSW 2011

LIB 17.3%

Incumbent MP
Brad Hazzard, since 1991.

Geography
Northern beaches of Sydney. Wakehurst covers parts of Warringah local government area, including the suburbs of Collaroy, Cromer, Dee Why, Beacon Hill, Frenchs Forest, Allambie Heights, Killarney Heights and Forestville.

History
Wakehurst has existed since 1962. It has been won by the Liberal Party at all but two elections over the last half-century.

The seat was first won in 1962 by Dick Healey of the Liberal Party. He moved to the new seat of Davidson in 1971. He served as a minister in the Coalition state government from 1973 to 1976, and retired in 1981.

Wakehurst was won in 1971 by Allan Viney. He held the seat until his defeat in 1978 by the ALP’s Tom Webster. The 1978 election was a landslide for the ALP under Neville Wran, and Wakehurst was one of a number of traditional Liberal seats to fall to Labor.

Webster was re-elected at the 1981 election but was defeated in 1984 by Liberal candidate John Booth. Booth held the seat until 1991, when he lost preselection to Brad Hazzard.

Hazzard has held Wakehurst since 1991. He joined the Coalition frontbench after the 1995 election, and has served in a variety of portfolios, and currently serves as Shadow Minister for Planning and Infrastructure.

Candidates

Political situation
Wakehurst is a very safe Liberal seat.

2007 result

Candidate Party Votes % Swing
Brad Hazzard LIB 24,488 56.9 +8.9
Patricio Chavez ALP 10,305 24.0 +0.3
Conny Harris GRN 5,436 12.6 +2.2
Georgina Johanson DEM 1,528 3.6 +2.2
Thomas Moody AAFI 1,249 2.9 +1.3

2007 two-candidate-preferred result

Candidate Party Votes % Swing
Brad Hazzard LIB 25,980 67.3 +4.1
Patricio Chavez ALP 12,628 32.7 -4.1

Booth breakdown
Booths in Wakehurst have been divided into three areas: Collaroy in the northeast, Dee Why in the southeast, and Frenchs Forest in the southwest.

The Liberal Party polled around 70% in Collaroy and Frenchs Forest, and a smaller 63% in Dee Why.

Polling booths in Wakehurst at the 2007 state election. Collaroy in yellow, Dee Why in green, Frenchs Forest in blue.
Voter group GRN % LIB 2CP % Total votes % of votes
Dee Why 12.4 63.2 17,113 39.8
Collaroy 12.8 70.0 9,919 23.1
Frenchs Forest 12.3 71.5 8,146 18.9
Other votes 13.4 69.3 7,828 18.2
Two-party-preferred votes in Wakehurst at the 2007 state election.
Greens primary votes in Wakehurst at the 2007 state election.

4 COMMENTS

  1. Home turf for myself. I believe that perennial bridesmaid for the ALP, Linda Beattie will be running again.

    Couple of interesting points from the last election:
    *I used to work with Patricio Chavez at the Coles Supermarket at Warringah Mall. He has completely jumped ship and is now a member of the local Liberal Branch.
    *Expect this to become a Lib vs Greens vote here.

  3. Some information on the Greens candidate, Connie Harris

    She is a current councillor in Warringah Council (The council that has been sacked more times in its history than any other council). She is strongly opposed to the redevelopment of Frenches Forest for a new hospital and has joined a very vocal minority group called the “Friends of Brookvale” who are looking to prevent any further upgrades to Brookvale Oval.

Comments are closed.