Queensland State Election 2012: Ipswich
Electorate: Ipswich
Margin: Labor 16.7%
Region: Central Ipswich
Federal: Blair
Click here for Electoral Commission of Queensland map
The candidates
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ROBERT JEREMY
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Electorate analysis: The electorate of Ipswich covers the central and southern parts of the western Brisbane satellite city that bears its name, with its northern boundary defined by the Bremer River. The city’s outer northern and western suburbs are in Ipswich West, while the eastern area constitutes Bundamba. Ipswich has been a stronghold for Labor for most of its history, although former Liberal leader Sir Llew Edwards held the seat from 1972 until his retirement in 1983. As would be expected on Pauline Hanson’s home turf, One Nation polled strongly in 1998 with 39.5 per cent of the primary vote, but Labor held on with a margin of 3.4 per cent.
Ipswich has been held since 2001 by Rachel Nolan, who is associated with the Labor Unity faction. She was promoted to parliamentary secretary in the reshuffle that followed Peter Beattie’s departure in September 2007, and to cabinet as Transport Minister after the 2009 election. She was moved to finance and arts in the February 2011 reshuffle, and further acquired natural resources when Kate Jones quit the ministry in June 2011 to concentrate on her electorate of Ashgrove.
Analysis written by William Bowe. Please direct corrections or comments to pollbludger-AT-crikey.com.au. Read William’s blog, The Poll Bludger.