Victorian State Election 2010: Lara
Electorate: Lara
Margin: Labor 17.7%
Upper house region: Western Victoria
Federal: Corio/Lalor
Click here for Victorian Electoral Commission map
The candidates
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COLLA, Glenn
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Electorate analysis: Created at the 2002 election in place of abolished Geelong North, Lara extends 30 kilometres beyond the northern outskirts of Geelong to Anakie and east along the Princes Freeway almost as far as Werribee. Geelong North was held for Labor by Geelong Football Club stalwart Neil Trezise (the father of the current member for Geelong, Ian Trezise) from its creation in 1967 until his retirement in 1992, and henceforth by Peter Loney. Loney held Lara for its inaugural term but announced his retirement a year out from the 2006 election as it became apparent he would not survive a preselection challenge from John Eren, Turkish-born member for the local upper house province of Geelong since the 2002 election. This marked a victory for Eren’s Labor Unity faction over Loney’s Socialist Left, and formed part of a local Labor Unity offensive that also unseated Gavan O’Connor in favour of Richard Marles in the federal seat of Corio.
Analysis written by William Bowe. Read William’s blog, The Poll Bludger.