THE POLL BLUDGER
Western Australian Legislative Assembly Election 2008

CANNINGTON Labor 13.2%
New electorate Upper house region: South Metropolitan Federal divisions: Swan/Tangney/Hasluck
	CHRISTINE CUNNINGHAM Greens BILL JOHNSTON Labor (top) MARK STAER Christian Democratic Party RYAN CHORLEY Liberal (bottom)

The new south-eastern suburbs electorate of Cannington has been created from strong Labor territory that formerly constituted the south-east of Victoria Park (providing Cannington with 36 per cent of its voters, from Cannington itself west to Wilson and east to Queens Park), the west of abolished Kenwick (34 per cent, from East Cannington south through Beckenham to Langford), the north of Southern River (17 per cent, Lynwood) and the east of Riverton (13 per cent, in Ferndale). Bill Johnston, party state secretary and former official with the Right faction Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association, quickly established his claim upon the new seat, having earlier expressed interest in neighbouring Victoria Park when Geoff Gallop vacated it in January 2006. On that occasion he was persuaded by his own faction not to run as it was concerned the state secretary position might be lost to the Left. This came shortly after his plans for a Senate seat fell through when factional colleague Mark Bishop went back on his decision to retire. Simon Ward, chief-of-staff to Corrective Services Minister Margaret Quirk, was described by The Australian as a “surprise” challenger to Johnston's preselection. This was reportedly part of an unsuccessful counter-offensive by the New Right faction after it lost its favoured status due to powerbroker John D'Orazio's various troubles.

ASSESSMENT: Labor retain