Victorian State Election 2010: Bundoora

Victorian election guide

Electorate: Bundoora

Margin: Labor 15.1%
Upper house region: Northern Metropolitan
Federal: Batman/Jagajaga/Scullin
Click here for Victorian Electoral Commission map

The candidates

bundoora - alp

McCOLL, Karen-Joy
Independent

BROOKS, Colin
Labor (top)

BRAR, Goldy
Liberal (bottom)

ROBERTS, Tim
Greens

CONLON, Luke
Family First

O’FARRELL, Catherine
Democratic Labor Party

bundoora-lib

Electorate analysis: Bundoora is located 25 kilometres north-east of central Melbourne and includes the suburbs of Watsonia, Macleod and Greensborough along with Bundoora itself. The seat has been in Labor’s hands since its creation in 1976, having been held by former Premier John Cain from its creation until his retirement in 1992, Sherryl Garbutt from then until the 2006 election, and thereafter by Colin Brooks. Brooks previously worked as an electorate officer to Garbutt, and had long expected to inherit the seat. However, his hopes appeared to be dashed when Steve Bracks oversaw a factional deal guaranteeing seats would be found for all ministers. Fulfilment of this compelled the Right to use the seat to accommodate Sports Minister Justin Madden, who had been squeezed out by the reduction in the size of the upper house. A reversal of fortune for Brooks came two months before the 2006 election, when Mary Delahunty’s announcement she would not recontest her seat of Northcote prompted Bracks to forge a new arrangement where Fiona Richardson was given Northcote, Madden took her place on top of the Western Metropolitan upper house ticket and Brooks finally received Bundoora.

Analysis written by William Bowe. Read William’s blog, The Poll Bludger.

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