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THE POLL BLUDGER HOTHAM
Hotham has covered a shifting area of Melbourne's south-western suburbs, currently taking in Clayton, Oakleigh and Springvale. Demographic change explains its drift from marginal Liberal seat, held by Don Chipp from 1960 to 1977, to safe Labor, held by Simon Crean since 1990. Crean faced an anti-climactic preselection challenge ahead of the current election from National Union of Workers state secretary Martin Pakula. This was seen to be formidable due to the backing of state Clayton MP Hong Lim, who was believed to control a bloc of votes from the Cambodian community. Crean saw off the challenge by winning 70 per cent of the votes from local branch preselectors. Pakula became a member for the state upper house region of Western Metropolitan at last November's election. | |