QUEENSLAND ELECTION 2009

MACKAY Labor 17.3%
Region: Regional City Federal division: Dawson
	JONATHON DYKYJ Greens BOB OAKES Liberal National (bottom) TIM MULHERIN Labor (top)

The electorate of Mackay includes the central part of the coastal city bearing its name 970 kilometres north of Brisbane, excluding the northern coastal reaches of Dolphin Beach and Shoal Point and the western suburb of Mt Pleasant (which are in Whitsunday. Noted as a centre for sugar production since colonial times, Mackay has formed the basis of an electorate without interruption since 1878. It has had just four members since 1915, all Labor: William Forgan Smith (1915 to 1942, Premier from 1932 to 1942), Fred Graham (1943 to 1969), Ed Casey (1969 to 1995, Opposition Leader from 1978 to 1982) and Tim Mulherin (1995 to present). Mulherin devoted his energies to estimates committee work until finally winning promotion to cabinet as Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister in December 2005, filling a vacancy created by the resignation of Gordon Nuttall. He is a member of the Labor Unity/Old Guard faction.

PREDICTION: Labor retain