THE POLL BLUDGER
Western Australian Legislative Assembly Election 2008

BALCATTA Labor 9.3%
Upper house region: North Metropolitan Federal divisions: Stirling/Curtin
	JOHN KOBELKE Labor (top) PETER SCHOFIELD Christian Democratic Party INGE GEORGE Family First IRMA LACHMUND Greens CHRISTOPHER HATTON Liberal (bottom)

Balcatta is located inland of the Mitchell Freeway to the north of the city, from Joondanna north through Tuart Hill to Hamersley. The redistribution has stripped it of territory north of Reid Highway (which goes to Girrawheen) and east of Wanneroo Road (to Nollamara), cutting the healthy Labor margin by 0.6 per cent. Balcatta has existed as an electorate on and off since 1904, having been held by Brian Burke from 1973 until its abolition the following year and again following its recreation in 1977 until 1983 (he was member for Balga in the interim and again after 1983). It was then held until 1989 by Ron Bertram, previously member for Mount Hawthorn, and subsequently by Nick Catania until it was again abolished in 1996. Catania then made an unsuccessful attempt to win Yokine from Liberal incumbent Kim Hames, now the member for distant Dawesville.

Balcatta was recreated at the 2005 election and bequeathed to John Kobelke, whose abolished seat of Nollamara provided the electorate with about a third of its voters. A former high school teacher and party official, Kobelke entered parliament in 1989 and made the front-bench after the defeat of the Lawrence government in 1993. He held portfolios including labour relations and consumer affairs during the first term of the Gallop government, before being promoted to Police Minister in May 2006. Kobelke is associated with the “New Right” faction which broke away from the Brian Burke dominated “Old Right” ahead of the 2001 election, and which has recently been in eclipse following the political troubles of Ballajura MP John D'Orazio. Kobelke recently voted with two other ministers in an unsuccessful move to thwart the installation of Reece Whitby in Morley, which according to The West Australian had provoked “speculation” about his future as a minister.

ASSESSMENT: Labor retain