KALGOORLIE (Western Australia)

At 2 295 354 sq kms, Kalgoorlie is supposed to be the largest electorate in the world in terms of area. It is one of Australia’s smallest in number of registered voters and had the second lowest turnout in 2004 (83.53% compared with 94.32% nationally).

In July 207 approximately 80,000 people were enrolled to vote. Only Tasmania (which is guaranteed 5 seats in the Constitution) and the Northern Territory (which currently has 2 seats by special legislation) had less. It has a significant indigenous enrolment.

The main towns are Broome, Boulder, Carnarvon, Coolgardie, Dampier, Derby, Esperance, Exmouth, Halls Creek, Kalbarri, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Kununurra, Merredin, Newman, Norseman, Northampton, Port Hedland, Wiluna and Wyndham.

Mining, pastoral and fishing are major industries. It includes the Ord River irrigation area.

Previous member: Graeme Campbell, who held the seat for the Australian Labor Party from 1980 till 1996 and as an independent until 1998.

The ALP held the seat for all but 17 years from 1901 to 1996.

The ALP candidate is Sharon Thiel.

 
2004 Election Results:

Two-party Preferred was LP 56.30% – ALP 43.70%

Swing required: 6.3%.

Informal vote: 5.34%.

Turn out: 83.53% of those enrolled compared with 94.32% for all of Australia.

Preferences: The flow was 58.75 to the Liberal Party. 

Kevin Rennie is a secondary teacher, unionist and has been an Australian Labor Party member for 35 years. He has had eight years teaching in the Northern Territory: four in Katherine, followed by four in Maningrida, an aboriginal community in Arnhem Land. Kevin has been a Broome resident since January 2007. He blogs at Labor View from Broome. 

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