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THE POLL BLUDGER FRASER
Fraser was created in 1974 when the electorate of Australian Capital Territory was divided into two. It takes in the entirely urban northern part of Canberra, while Canberra itself extends into Namadji National Park. Prior to the current election it included an extension south of the water at Barton and Kingston, but a redistribution of the two ACT seats has moved this area to Canberra. Whereas Canberra fell to the Liberals between 1975 and 1980 and again at the 1995 by-election, Fraser has been held at all times by Labor. Bob McMullan came to the seat in 1998 when the ACT reverted to two seats after one term with three, having previously been the member for Canberra. This involved the displacement of Steve Darvagel, who had come to the seat only the previous February at a by-election held to replace the retiring John Langmore. McMullan's vacancy in Canberra was filled by Annette Ellis, previously member for the abolished Namadji. The dramatic redistributions that resulted from the creation and abolition of Namadji had little effect on the margin, which has also remained fairly stable across recent elections. | |