THE POLL BLUDGER
New South Wales Legislative Assembly Election 2007

LISMORE
Nationals 8.1%

The electorate of Lismore covers a stretch of the Queensland border inland from the coastal electorates of Tweed and Ballina. The city of Lismore is located in the south-eastern corner of the electorate, which extends 125 kilometres westwards to Drake and Liston. Numerous adjustments have been made to its boundaries by the redistribution, the significant ones being the gain of Murwillumbah from Tweed (more than 9000 voters) and the loss of Casino to Clarence in the south (around 7000 voters). The changes have cut 4.7 per cent from the Nationals margin. Lismore has been in National/Country Party hands since its recreation after the abolition of proportional representation in 1927, with two interruptions – from 1959 to 1965, when it was held for Labor by Keith Compton, and 1982 to 1988, when member Bruce Duncan quit what was then the National Country Party to protest the dropping of "Country" from its name. The party did not field a candidate against him in 1984. Former hotel manager Thomas George (right) succeeded Bill Rixon in 1988, and has since remained on the back bench. Labor has again nominated its candidate from 2003, Barkers Vale Public school principal and solar power advocate Peter Lanyon (right).

ASSESSMENT: Nationals retain