| THE POLL BLUDGER NEWCASTLE
Newcastle is the only House of Representatives seat to have been held by Labor at all times since federation. The party's smallest ever majority came in 2001 when Allan Morris retired as member after 18 years, his successor Sharon Grierson winning by 7.0 per cent. Grierson returned the margin to double figures with a 3.0 per cent swing in 2004, but has been penalised 1.3 per cent by a redistribution that extends the electorate north of the Hunter River mouth to Raymond Terrace and transfers the western suburb of Maryland to Charlton. | |