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THE POLL BLUDGER CALLIDE
Callide was unimpeachably safe for the National/Country Party from its creation at the 1950 election (barring the period from 1981 to 1986 when Lindsay Hartwig held it as an independent after being expelled by the party) until 1998, when the One Nation earthquake combined with the retirement of sitting member Di McCauley cut the party's vote from 74.4 per cent to 37.7 per cent. New member Jeff Seeney only slightly improved his vote in 2001 and again had to rely on Labor preferences to secure a narrow win over One Nation. Normality was restored in 2004, when he polled 60.4 per cent and One Nation finished third behind Labor. ASSESSMENT: Nationals retain | |