THE POLL BLUDGER
Queensland Legislative Assembly Election 2006

GREENSLOPES
Labor 11.0%

Greenslopes is located in Brisbane's inner south, from Coorparoo south to Tarragindi. The parties' broader fortunes have been closely reflected by the outcomes here, such that the electorate is rivalled only by Mansfield in the electoral litmus test stakes. It was created at the 1960 election and held by the Liberals until 1983, when former minister Bill Hewitt became one of many high profile casualties of the electorate's thumbs-down to the party's anti-Joh rebellion. The National Party victor, Leisha Harvey, later became Health Minister and was convicted on Fitzgerald-related misappropriation charges after her crushing defeat at the 1989 poll. Gary Fenlon (left) has held it for Labor since then, barring the term following his narrow defeat to the Liberals in 1995. Gary Fenlon has never risen to the ministry during his two periods in parliament, but was spoken of as a possible Speaker to replace Ray Hollis when he retired in June last year. However, the position instead went to his Labor Forum colleague, Tony McGrady. The Liberal candidate is Melina Morgan (right), a Queensland University of Technology "program educator" and small business director. Greens candidate Darryl Rosin is a regular contributor to Poll Bludger comments threads.

ASSESSMENT: Labor retain