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THE POLL BLUDGER GRAYNDLER
Grayndler covers Sydney's inner south-west from Leichhardt and Newtown out to Ashfield, Dulwich Hill (of Howard family service station fame), Marrickville and Sydenham. Currently held by Left faction power-broker Anthony Albanese, past members include Right power-broker Leo McLeay (1979 to 1993, when he moved to Watson) and Gough Whitlam's son Tony (1975 to 1977, when his forgettable political career ended with a spectacularly unsuccessful run for Watson, then called St George). The redistribution has added territory around Haberfield in the north-west from Lowe, while removing part of Annandale to Sydney in the west. Grayndler has been exceptionally strong for Labor since its creation in 1949, the smallest margin of 9.7 per cent resulting from a backlash against Labor in the party's heartland in 1987. The Greens polled 21.1 per cent in 2004, falling 1.9 per cent short of overhauling the Liberal candidate into second place. Labor would not have been troubled even if the gap had been closed, as Albanese's primary vote was 51.2 per cent. | |