|
THE POLL BLUDGER CHARLTON
Covering the Hunter region on the inland side of Lake Macquarie, from Wyee north through Toronto to the outer Newcastle suburbs of Cardiff and Wallsend, Charlton has been a safe seat for Labor since it was created with the expansion of parliament in 1984. The inaugural member was Bob Brown (obviously not to be confused with the Greens leader), who had earlier held Hunter from 1980. Brown was succeeded by his daughter Kelly Hoare upon his retirement in 1998. After a largely undistinguished career, Hoare has been dumped by Labor in favour of ACTU secretary Greg Combet, following a bruising preselection process that brought her some most unwelcome publicity. | |