Victorian State Election 2010: Albert Park
Electorate: Albert Park
Margin: Labor 9.7%
Upper house region: Southern Metropolitan
Federal: Melbourne Ports
Click here for Victorian Electoral Commission map
The candidates
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BLAKEY, Katie
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Electorate analysis: Held by Labor since 1950, Albert Park covers the bayside from the mouth of the Yarra to St Kilda, with St Kilda Road as the eastern boundary. John Thwaites became the member at the 1992 election, having previously worked as a lawyer and ministerial adviser in the Cain government. Thwaites rose rapidly to the deputy leadership in January 1997, serving as Health and Planning Minister in the Bracks government’s first term and Environment and Water Minister in its second. On 27 July 2007 he announced his resignation hours after Steve Bracks, initiating a by-election that the Liberal Party’s administration committee opted not to contest, to the chagrin of Ted Baillieu. The result was a comfortable victory for Labor candidate Martin Foley, who increased the Labor vote 5.8 per cent to 46.8 per cent, ahead of the Greens who were up 9.5 per cent to 28.5 per cent. Foley had previously been chief-of-staff to Police Minister Bob Cameron and a former official with the Left faction Australian Services Union.
The Liberal candidate is Mark Lopez, who “has carved out a successful career as a writer and private tutor”.
Analysis written by William Bowe. Read William’s blog, The Poll Bludger.