THE POLL BLUDGER
Western Australian Legislative Assembly Election 2008

BELMONT Labor 11.7%
Upper house region: East Metropolitan Federal divisions: Swan/Hasluck
	TASMAN GILBERT Christian Democratic Party JOHN GLEESON Independent LOUISE JUDGE Greens ERIC RIPPER Labor (top) EDWARD RICHARDS Liberal (bottom) JOHN YARROW Family First

The electorate of Belmont was recreated in 1989 after an earlier life from 1962 to 1974, the area being covered by Ascot in the interim and Middle Swan beforehand. All three electorates were held by Labor at all times, barring a narrow victory for Liberal candidate Bill Grayden (later to hold South Perth for 37 years) in Middle Swan in 1947. The one-vote one-value redistribution has brought it neatly down to size through the transfer of High Wycombe east of Abernethy Road to Forrestfield, boosting the Labor margin by 0.9 per cent. Eric Ripper held Ascot for Labor until 1989 and Belmont thereafter, having won the former at a 1988 by-election caused by the retirement of Burke government Deputy Premier Mal Bryce. He is the senior parliamentary figure of the Transport Workers Union-dominated Centre faction, and has been a model of stability throughout the government's tumultuous two terms by serving as Deputy Premier and Treasurer throughout. His Liberal opponent is 28-year-old Edward Richards, who tells the Southern Gazette Community newspaper he was “originally offered the safe Liberal seat of Kalgoorlie, but rejected it because he felt he had more to offer to the Belmont electorate”.

ASSESSMENT: Labor retain