THE POLL BLUDGER
Victorian Legislative Assembly Election 2006

WILLIAMSTOWN
Labor 25.7%

Steve Bracks' right electorate of Williamstown covers the area immediately west of the mouth of the Yarra River, from Williamstown on the shore to Brooklyn beyond the West Gate Freeway. The electorate has existed since 1859; it was first won by Labor in 1891, and they have held it uninterrupted since 1904. Bracks became member at a by-election in June 1994 following Joan Kirner's retirement, having earlier performed strongly but unsuccessfully as candidate for a by-election in Ballarat North in 1988. To win preselection he joined Labor Unity, having earlier been aligned with the small Independents faction. Bracks had made the front bench with the employment and industrial relations portfolio by the end of the year, and by 1996 was both Shadow Treasurer and Shadow Industrial Relations Minister. He ascended to the leadership in March 1999 When John Brumby agreed to resign after failing to keep a lid on factional tensions within the party, and to the premiership seven months later at the head of a minority government following the shock September election result.

ASSESSMENT: Labor retain