NSW State Election 2011: Granville
Electorate: Granville
Margin: Labor 11.1%
Region: Western Sydney
Federal: Parramatta/Blaxland/McMahon
Click here for NSW Electoral Commission map
The candidates
|
ALEX SHARAH
|
|
|
Electorate analysis: The electorate of Granville covers western Sydney suburbs to the south of Parramatta, from Granville west through Merrylands to South Wentworthville. It was last in conservative hands during the Lang years, from 1932 to 1938, and has been held by Labor ever since. Left faction powerbroker Laurie Ferguson was the member from 1984 to 1990, when he entered federal parliament as the member for Reid and later Werriwa. His successor Kim Yeadon served as a minister in various portfolios until he was dumped after the 2003 election, and he bowed out at the 2007 election.
The member since has been David Borger, who had been Lord Mayor of Parramatta since 1999 and ran unsuccessfully stood for Labor in the federal seat of Parramatta in 2001. Borger won a local preselection ballot for the state seat of Parramatta in 2003 and also had the backing of Bob Carr, but he was frozen out by a Right-backed move to impose an N40 ballot which gave the position to Tanya Gadiel. This was reportedly inspired by his refusal to join the faction, and it prompted Borger to muse about the possibility of running as an independent and to make supportive noises about the independent candidacy of Parramatta councillor Lorraine Wearne. He finally made it to parliament in 2007 as one of five preselections rubber-stamped by the party’s national executive at the behest of Morris Iemma. When Nathan Rees became Premier in September 2008 he won promotion to Housing Minister, and further acquired the transport and roads portfolio when Kristina Keneally took over in December 2009.
The Liberal candidate is Tony Issa, former Parramatta mayor and construction business director, who was chosen ahead of the candidate from 2007, Holroyd councillor and financial company managing director Eddy Sarkis.
Analysis written by William Bowe. Please direct corrections or comments to pollbludger-AT-crikey.com.au. Read William’s blog, The Poll Bludger.