THE POLL BLUDGER
Victorian Legislative Assembly Election 2006

BULLEEN
Liberal 2.6%

Bulleen is located 20 kilometres north-east of the Melbourne CBD, with the Yarra forming the electorate's northern boundary. It has been held by the Liberals at all times since its creation at the 1985 election. The member until 1999 was David Perrin, who was defeated for preselection by former Jeff Kennett adviser Nick Kotsiras (right) amid grumbling about a party membership drive among the local Greek community. The Age reported at the time that Kotsiras was a shareholder in a company negotiating a land swap with the government, and that associates of the company's owner were linked to an influx of 30 new branch members. Kotsiras suffered a modest 3.0 per cent swing in 1999, but a further 10.1 per cent swing in 2001 brought his seat well into the marginal zone. He has nonetheless climbed gradually up the opposition ladder to acquire a myriad of minor portfolios (currently technology and innovation, youth, multicultural affairs and citzenship).

ASSESSMENT: Liberal retain