THE POLL BLUDGER
Western Australian Legislative Assembly Election 2008

WAGIN Nationals 29.7%
Upper house region: Agricultural Federal divisions: O'Connor/Pearce/Kalgoorlie
	TERRY WALDRON Nationals (top) JEAN ROBINSON Citizens Electoral Council ADRIAN PRICE Greens STEVEN MARTIN Liberal (bottom) DOUGLAS MELVILLE Labor JACKY YOUNG Christian Democratic Party

The southern wheatbelt seat of Wagin has grown to meet the demands of one-vote one-value by expanding into abolished electorates in the north (taking Pingelly and Boddington from Avon, and Corrigin east through Kondinin to Hyden from Merredin) and east (Bremer Bay north through Lake Grace to Kulin and the thinly populated rural surrounds). In the south-west it loses the Shire of Boyup Brook and the eastern part of Bridgetown-Greenbushes to Blackwood-Stirling. Despite the fairly dramatic changes it is the only Nationals-held seat with an obvious continuity to a single pre-redistribution electorate. It was nonetheless suggested that sitting member Terry Waldron might move to the upper house so Brendon Grylls could be accommodated without freezing out Max Trenorden in Central Wheatbelt. However, Trenorden ultimately agreed to take the Agricultural upper house seat vacated by the retiring Murray Criddle, allowing Grylls to take Central Wheatbelt and Waldron to stay put. Waldron has held the seat since Court government minister Bob Wiese retired at the 2001 election, when he prevailed over Liberal candidate Judith Adams (now a Senator) by 5.9 per cent on two-party preferred. He has held the deputy leadership since November 2001, when it was vacated upon Max Trenorden's elevation to the leadership in succession to Hendy Cowan.

ASSESSMENT: Nationals retain