QUEENSLAND ELECTION 2009

STRETTON Labor 14.2%
Region: Southern Brisbane Federal divisions: Moreton/Oxley
	STEPHEN ROBERTSON Labor (top) JANE CAJDLER Greens KERRIE FRIZZELL Liberal National (bottom)

The electorate of Stretton extends south-westwards from Underwood on the inland edge of the South East Freeway, about 15 kilometres south of the city, to Stretton and Drewvale. The redistribution has removed two substantial sections in the north-west and east, respectively transferring 3600 voters at Sunnybank South to Sunnybank and 3000 at Underwood to Woodridge, while adding 2400 voters at Calamvale from Algester. Stretton was created at the 2001 election in place of abolished Sunnybank, which has been recreated with the current redistribution as Stretton's northern neighbour. Stephen Robertson held Sunnybank from its creation in 1992 until he transferred to the new seat in 2001. Robertson's closest shave came in 1995 when a below-average 4.1 per cent anti-Labor swing cut his margin to 1.4 per cent. He increased his margin by 6.8 per cent in 1998, 4.8 per cent in 2001 and 2.3 per cent in 2004, suffering only a 0.8 per cent correction in 2006.

A member of the Left faction, Robertson was made a parliamentary secretary when the Beattie government came to power in June 1998 and promoted to Emergency Services Minister in December 1999, moving to natural resources and mines in 2001. He further gained the energy portfolio after the February 2004 election, but lost it the following August when Peter Beattie determined it should be a stand-alone portfolio due to the state's mounting power difficulties. These portfolios were exchanged for health in July 2005, which he has maintained ever since.

PREDICTION: Labor retain