THE POLL BLUDGER
Victorian Legislative Assembly Election 2006

ALTONA
Labor 24.7%

The western bayside suburb of Altona is located at the eastern end of the electorate that bears its name, which extends inland past Princes Freeway to Laverton and Truganina. The seat was created at the 1992 election and has been been very safe for Labor at all times. The first member was Carole Marple, who lost preselection in her first term after a deal between Labor Unity and the Socialist Left marginalised her hard left Pledge faction. A further deal struck between Pledge and Labor Unity sought to give Marple refuge in the upper house province of Geelong, but it failed to stick in the face of local opposition. The new member in Altona was the Socialist Left's Lynne Kosky (right), who won immediate promotion to the opposition front bench upon her election in 1996. In government she held the portfolios of employment and finance before being appointed Education Minister in February 2002. Liberal candidate Ian Soylemez is a former prison officer and current "contract manager working for a large hospitality company".

ASSESSMENT: Labor retain