THE POLL BLUDGER
House of Representatives Election 2007

CALWELL
Labor 8.1%

Calwell was created when parliamentary numbers were increased in 1984, originally being centred on Keilor and St Albans to the south of the airport. It was substantially reoriented at two later redistributions: in 1990, when it shifted north-eastwards to take in Broadmeadows, and in 2004, when it moved deep into Melbourne's north-western outskirts to take in Sunbury. The seat has had two members since its creation: Andrew Theophanous, who had been the member for Burke from 1980, and Maria Vamvakinou, who succeeded Theophanous in 2001. Theophanous quit the party in April 2000 after claiming factional leaders had reneged on a deal in which he was to be succeeded by his brother Theo, then and now a member of the state upper house. At the time, Theophanous was facing criminal charges relating to abuse of his position as MP, which he allegedly abused to receive bribes and sexual favours from Chinese nationals seeking immigration assistance. He would eventually be sentenced to four years' imprisonment, although this was halved after one of the major charges was quashed on appeal.

The Liberal candidate had originally been Paul McLoughlin, but he was replaced shortly before the close of nominations by the candidate from 2004, the candidate from 2004. According to Gerard McManus of the Herald-Sun, McLoughlin was “asked to quit” after he sent a heavy-handed email to suburban journalists. The Age tells it somewhat differently: “party sources” said McLoughlin had “irritated the party” by stepping down for “personal reasons”, having become “fed up with the campaign”. Competing interpretations from Liberal insiders have also been related to Andrew Landeryou (here and here).