Division of Paterson
Encyclopedia
The Division of Paterson is an Australian Electoral Division in the state
of New South Wales
. It is located just north of Newcastle
, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean
. It extends to the Hunter Valley in the south, the Manning River
in the north, and the Great Dividing Range
in the west. It includes the towns of Forster
, Nelson Bay
, Raymond Terrace
and Paterson
.
Paterson was originally created in 1949 and abolished in 1984. It was recreated after a redistribution in 1992.
The current Division is named after federation
-era poet and author Banjo Paterson
.
-era poet and author Banjo Paterson
although there is conjecture that it was originally named after Colonel William Paterson
who also gave his name to the Paterson River
and the town of Paterson, both of which were situated within the electorate. It was first contested at the 1949 election
. At the time it included the towns of Singleton
, Maitland
and Muswellbrook
. Redistributions eventually moved the electorate north until it included Gunnedah
and Mudgee. The original electorate was abolished at the 11 October 1984 redistribution.
At the redistribution of 31 January 1992 the electorate was recreated, covering a similar area to the original electorate. It was first contested at the 1993 Federal election and was narrowly won by Bob Horne
(Labor
). After 1993 the seat was continuously exchanged between Horne and Bob Baldwin
(Liberal
); the seat changed hands in 1996, in 1998 and again in 2001. During this period both Bobs became so well known that name recognition in the Division was often in excess of 90% in private party polling.
Horne did not contest the seat at the 2004 election at which Baldwin comfortably defeated a new Labor candidate, former Port Stephens councillor Giovanna Kozary, to retain the seat for the first time. At the 2007 election, Baldwin narrowly defeated new Labor candidate Jim Arneman, a Health Services Union
organiser. At the 2010 election, Baldwin again defeated Arneman, this time retaining the seat for the Liberal Party with an absolute majority of primary votes.
Paterson is currently regarded as a marginal Liberal seat.
States and territories of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a union of six states and various territories. The Australian mainland is made up of five states and three territories, with the sixth state of Tasmania being made up of islands. In addition there are six island territories, known as external territories, and a...
of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. It is located just north of Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. It extends to the Hunter Valley in the south, the Manning River
Manning River
The Manning River is a river in the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia that flows through the Manning Valley. It is one of Australia's few large river systems not to be dammed for water supply purposes anywhere along its catchment...
in the north, and the Great Dividing Range
Great Dividing Range
The Great Dividing Range, or the Eastern Highlands, is Australia's most substantial mountain range and the third longest in the world. The range stretches more than 3,500 km from Dauan Island off the northeastern tip of Queensland, running the entire length of the eastern coastline through...
in the west. It includes the towns of Forster
Forster, New South Wales
Forster is a large coastal town in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, in the Great Lakes Council LGA, about north-north-east of Sydney. It is immediately adjacent to its twin, Tuncurry, which is the smaller of the two towns...
, Nelson Bay
Nelson Bay, New South Wales
Nelson Bay is a suburb of the Port Stephens Local Government Area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on a bay of the same name on the southern shore of Port Stephens about by road north-east of Newcastle, its nearest rail link. At the 2006 census, Nelson Bay had a...
, Raymond Terrace
Raymond Terrace, New South Wales
Raymond Terrace is a town in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia, about by road north of Newcastle on the Pacific Highway. Established in 1837 it is situated at the confluence of the Hunter and Williams rivers and has about 12,600 residents. It is the administrative centre of the Port...
and Paterson
Paterson, New South Wales
Paterson is a small township in the lower Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia. Located within Dungog Shire it is situated on the Paterson River. At the 2006 census, Paterson had a population of 345 people...
.
Paterson was originally created in 1949 and abolished in 1984. It was recreated after a redistribution in 1992.
The current Division is named after federation
Federation of Australia
The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed one nation...
-era poet and author Banjo Paterson
Banjo Paterson
Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson, OBE was an Australian bush poet, journalist and author. He wrote many ballads and poems about Australian life, focusing particularly on the rural and outback areas, including the district around Binalong, New South Wales where he spent much of his childhood...
.
History
Paterson was first created at the redistribution of 11 May 1949. It was named after federationFederation of Australia
The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed one nation...
-era poet and author Banjo Paterson
Banjo Paterson
Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson, OBE was an Australian bush poet, journalist and author. He wrote many ballads and poems about Australian life, focusing particularly on the rural and outback areas, including the district around Binalong, New South Wales where he spent much of his childhood...
although there is conjecture that it was originally named after Colonel William Paterson
William Paterson (explorer)
Colonel William Paterson, FRS was a Scottish soldier, explorer, Lieutenant governor and botanist best known for leading early settlement in Tasmania. This botanist is denoted by the author abbreviation Paterson when citing a botanical name.-Early years:A native of Montrose, Scotland, Paterson was...
who also gave his name to the Paterson River
Paterson River
The Paterson River, a tributary of the Hunter River, is a significant river in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. Its headwaters are in the Barrington Tops National Park and it flows to join the Hunter River between Hinton and Morpeth...
and the town of Paterson, both of which were situated within the electorate. It was first contested at the 1949 election
Australian federal election, 1949
Federal elections were held in Australia on 10 December 1949. All 121 seats in the House of Representatives, and 42 of the 60 seats in the Senate were up for election, where the single transferable vote was introduced...
. At the time it included the towns of Singleton
Singleton, New South Wales
-Industry & Commerce:Major industries near Singleton include coal mining, energy generation, light industry, vineyards, horse breeding and cattle production. Dairying was once a mainstay in the area, but has declined....
, Maitland
Maitland, New South Wales
Maitland is a city in the Lower Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia and the seat of Maitland City Council, situated on the Hunter River approximately by road north of Sydney and north-west of Newcastle...
and Muswellbrook
Muswellbrook, New South Wales
Muswellbrook, a corruption of 'Muscle Brook', is a town and Local Government Area in New South Wales, Australia. The original spelling and etymology of the town's name is a matter of some debate...
. Redistributions eventually moved the electorate north until it included Gunnedah
Gunnedah, New South Wales
Gunnedah is a town and Local government area in north-eastern New South Wales, Australia. 7,542 people lived in the town of Gunnedah in 2006, including 931 indigenous people ....
and Mudgee. The original electorate was abolished at the 11 October 1984 redistribution.
At the redistribution of 31 January 1992 the electorate was recreated, covering a similar area to the original electorate. It was first contested at the 1993 Federal election and was narrowly won by Bob Horne
Bob Horne
Robert Hodges "Bob" Horne is a former Australian politician. Born in Newcastle, New South Wales, he attended Newcastle University before becoming a teacher. He served on Dungog Shire Council from 1987–90 and Port Stephens Council from 1991-93. In 1993 he was elected to the Australian House of...
(Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
). After 1993 the seat was continuously exchanged between Horne and Bob Baldwin
Bob Baldwin
Robert Charles "Bob" Baldwin , Australian politician, has been a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives from March 1996 to October 1998 and again since November 2001, representing theDivision of Paterson in New South Wales...
(Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
); the seat changed hands in 1996, in 1998 and again in 2001. During this period both Bobs became so well known that name recognition in the Division was often in excess of 90% in private party polling.
Horne did not contest the seat at the 2004 election at which Baldwin comfortably defeated a new Labor candidate, former Port Stephens councillor Giovanna Kozary, to retain the seat for the first time. At the 2007 election, Baldwin narrowly defeated new Labor candidate Jim Arneman, a Health Services Union
Health Services Union
The Health Services Union is a specialist health union with over 70,000 members working in all areas of healthcare across Australia.The membership of the union includes doctors, nurses and allied health professionals such as physiotherapists and radiographers, ambulance officers, clerical and...
organiser. At the 2010 election, Baldwin again defeated Arneman, this time retaining the seat for the Liberal Party with an absolute majority of primary votes.
Paterson is currently regarded as a marginal Liberal seat.
Members
| First incarnation (1949–1984) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Party | Term | |
| Allen Fairhall Allen Fairhall Sir Allen Fairhall KBE was an Australian politician and Member of the Parliament of Australia for the Division of Paterson from 1949 to 1969. During that period he held a number of ministerial portfolios, most notably Supply and Defence.Fairhall was born at Morpeth and attended East Maitland... |
Liberal Liberal Party of Australia The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office... |
1949 Australian federal election, 1949 Federal elections were held in Australia on 10 December 1949. All 121 seats in the House of Representatives, and 42 of the 60 seats in the Senate were up for election, where the single transferable vote was introduced... –1969 |
|
| Frank O'Keefe Frank O'Keefe Frank Lionel O'Keefe, AM was an Australian politician. Born in Gunnedah, New South Wales, he attended state schools before becoming a farm machinery distributor and oil merchant. He was mayor of Gunnedah Shire Council for 18 years, and also served on Namoi Valley County Council... |
Country National Party of Australia The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is... |
1969 Australian federal election, 1969 Federal elections were held in Australia on 25 October 1969. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Party of Australia led by Prime Minister of Australia John Gorton with coalition partner the Country Party led by John McEwen defeated the Australian... –1975 |
|
| National Country National Party of Australia The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is... |
1975 Australian federal election, 1975 Federal elections were held in Australia on 13 December 1975. All 127 seats in the House of Representatives, and all 64 seats in the Senate were up for election following a double dissolution of both Houses.... –1982 |
||
| National National Party of Australia The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is... |
1982–1984 | ||
| Second incarnation (1993–present) | |||
| Member | Party | Term | |
| Bob Horne Bob Horne Robert Hodges "Bob" Horne is a former Australian politician. Born in Newcastle, New South Wales, he attended Newcastle University before becoming a teacher. He served on Dungog Shire Council from 1987–90 and Port Stephens Council from 1991-93. In 1993 he was elected to the Australian House of... |
Labor Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia... |
1993–1996 | |
| Bob Baldwin Bob Baldwin Robert Charles "Bob" Baldwin , Australian politician, has been a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives from March 1996 to October 1998 and again since November 2001, representing theDivision of Paterson in New South Wales... |
Liberal Liberal Party of Australia The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office... |
1996–1998 | |
| Bob Horne Bob Horne Robert Hodges "Bob" Horne is a former Australian politician. Born in Newcastle, New South Wales, he attended Newcastle University before becoming a teacher. He served on Dungog Shire Council from 1987–90 and Port Stephens Council from 1991-93. In 1993 he was elected to the Australian House of... |
Labor Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia... |
1998–2001 | |
| Bob Baldwin Bob Baldwin Robert Charles "Bob" Baldwin , Australian politician, has been a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives from March 1996 to October 1998 and again since November 2001, representing theDivision of Paterson in New South Wales... |
Liberal Liberal Party of Australia The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office... |
2001–present | |