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THE POLL BLUDGER SYDNEY
The electorate of Sydney was created in 1969 by a merger of West Sydney and East Sydney, which had existed since federation. West Sydney had been won by Labor at every election since federation, if Lang Labor member Jack Beasley's wins in the 1930s and 1940s are included. Billy Hughes held the seat for the first 17 years of its existence, and felt compelled to find a new seat in Bendigo when he parted company with Labor. East Sydney had been held by Labor since Lang Labor member Eddie Ward returned to the party in 1936. Sydney has at all times been rock solid for Labor, current member Tanya Plibersek taking over in 1998 on the retirement of Peter Baldwin, doomed to be remembered for the savage beating he suffered during the New South Wales ALP's factional wars at the turn of the 1980s. | |