Elections > Federal Election 2007 > Seats

Wide Bay

CHAPMAN, John - FFP
ESSENBERG, Martin - ONWA
LAWRENCE, Tony - ALP
MOLLOY, Cate - IND
SHAW, Terry - DEM
* TRUSS, Warren - NP     WINNER
WEBB, Katherine - GRN

* incumbent

Current Results
Past Results

About Wide Bay

Wide Bay sits on the northern end of Queensland's Sunshine Coast and covers an area of 12,428 sq km. The division extends from Maryborough in the north; to Murgon in the west; to Moy Pocket and Cooroy in the south; and to Peregian Beach in the southeast.

The major population centres are Maryborough and Gympie; with significant townships concentrated on the coast running north from Peregian Beach through Noosa to Tewantin. Wide Bay also includes Fraser Island, which is the world’s largest sand island.

The 2006 redistribution of Queensland's electoral divisions significantly affected Wide Bay. Approximately 40,000 electors moved from Wide Bay to different divisions: electors in the city of Hervey Bay, Biggenden Shire and Woocoo Shire moved to Hinkler, while electors in Wondai moved to the new division of Flynn. Wide Bay gained nearly 35,000 electors by absorbing all of Noosa Shire and the very north-east corner of the Maroochy Shire.

Seat Background

Wide Bay is named after the district which takes its name from the bay sighted by Captain James Cook on 18 May 1770. The seat has existed since Federation. In recent times it has been a safe Country/National Party seat.

Demographics

Rural.

Commentary and Analysis

Safe National.

Seat map copyright © 2007 Australian Electoral Commission