THE POLL BLUDGER
Queensland Legislative Assembly Election 2006

MOUNT COOT-THA
Labor 11.5%

RegionWestern Brisbane
FederalBrisbane/Ryan
CandidatesAndrew Fraser (Labor)
Juanita Wheeler (Greens)
James Mackay (Liberal)
Click here for PDF map at Parliament House site

Mount Coot-tha was held by the Liberals from its creation in 1950 to 1989, and thereafter by Labor. Former Health Minister Wendy Edmond held the seat for Labor from 1989 until her retirement in 2004, her closest call coming in 1995 when an 8.9 per cent swing closed the gap to 3.5 per cent. The seat is extremely strong for the Greens and there were suggestions in 2004 that it might deliver an historic win to their high-profile candidate, former ABC television and radio presenter Andrew Carroll. However, Carroll's 23.6 per cent was less than perennial candidate Drew Hutton had managed when he ran here in 1995, and left him 6.5 per cent behind the Liberal candidate he needed to overhaul if he was to have any hope of winning on preferences. Even so, Labor candidate Andrew Fraser's 44.2 per cent primary vote would probably have been unassailable.

ASSESSMENT: Labor retain