THE POLL BLUDGER
Western Australian Legislative Assembly Election 2008

ARMADALE Labor 14.2%
Upper house region: East Metropolitan Federal division: Canning
	ALANNAH MacTIERNAN Labor (top) CAROLINE WIELINGA Greens KEVIN SWARTS Christian Democratic Party STEVEN INNES Liberal

Armadale is a long-established outer urban centre and metropolitan railway terminus located about 30 kilometres south-east of the city. The redistribution has brought it down to size by detaching Kelmscott to the dramatically redrawn Darling Range (along with undeveloped areas in the west to Gosnells and Southern River), boosting the Labor margin by 1.2 per cent. The electorate was created in 1983 and has been held at all times by Labor, the closest result being Alannah MacTiernan's 4.0 per cent win in 1996 when she succeeded Kay Hallahan. The 1996 election was the second in a row at which the seat was used to accommodate a transfer from the upper house, Hallahan having succeeded inaugural member Bob Pearce in 1993. MacTiernan has been highly visible as Planning and Infrastructure Minister throughout the Gallop-Carpenter years (such that she is widely recognised on a first name basis), developing a reputation as one of the government's most vigorous parliamentary performers. Despite her stature within the government, MacTiernan's preselection was reportedly threatened ahead of the 2005 election when her handling of a school bus drivers' pay dispute cost her the support of the Transport Workers Union and the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, which dominated the Centre faction of which she was then a member. The move fell over after failing to win the support of the Left, and she has since survived and prospered as a factional independent.

ASSESSMENT: Labor retain