The Division of Flynn is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland.

Flynn
Australian House of Representatives Division
Map
Map
Interactive map of boundaries
Created2006
MPColin Boyce
PartyLiberal National
NamesakeJohn Flynn
Electors109,075 (2022)
Area132,824 km2 (51,283.6 sq mi)
DemographicRural and provincial

The current MP is Colin Boyce, a member of the Liberal National Party of Queensland. He was first elected in 2022.

Geography

edit

Federal electoral division boundaries in Australia are determined at redistributions by a redistribution committee appointed by the Australian Electoral Commission. Redistributions occur for the boundaries of divisions in a particular state, and they occur every seven years, or sooner if a state's representation entitlement changes or when divisions of a state are malapportioned.[1]

History

edit
 
John Flynn, the division's namesake

The division was created in 2006, following a redistribution of seats in the state. It was first contested at the 2007 federal election. The electorate generally extends west from the port city of Gladstone, as far as the Central Highlands town of Emerald. It was named after John Flynn, founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.[2]

Formation

edit

In June 2006, the Australian Electoral Commission announced that the new federal electorate in Queensland to be created for the 2007 election would be named Wright in honour of Judith Wright for her life as a "poet and in the areas of arts, conservation and indigenous affairs in Queensland and Australia".[3] However, in September 2006 the AEC announced that, due to numerous objections from people fearing the name may be linked to disgraced former Queensland ALP leader Keith Wright, it would name the seat after John Flynn.

The city of Gladstone, home to 40% of Flynn's voters, has long been a Labor stronghold. However, the rural areas vote in equally large numbers for the Liberal National Party.[4]

Demographics

edit

Flynn is a largely blue-collar electorate. It tends to support the Liberal National Party. Its industries include a mix of mining and agriculture, as well as heavy industry around Gladstone.[5]

Labor maintains a base of support in Gladstone and Mount Morgan,[5] and in the Aboriginal community of Woorabinda where it recorded 71.2% in 2019.[5] Elsewhere in the electorate, voters skew conservative and vote heavily for the Liberal National Party.[5]

Similar voting trends can be seen in the nearby electorates of Capricornia, Dawson, and Herbert.[5]

Members

edit
Image Member Party Term Notes
    Chris Trevor
(1961–)
Labor 24 November 2007
21 August 2010
Lost seat
    Ken O'Dowd
(1950–)
Liberal National 21 August 2010
11 April 2022
Retired
    Colin Boyce
(1962–)
21 May 2022
present
Previously held the Legislative Assembly of Queensland seat of Callide. Incumbent

Election results

edit
2022 Australian federal election: Flynn[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal National Colin Boyce 34,046 36.88 −1.01
Labor Matt Burnett 30,948 33.53 +4.88
One Nation Sharon Lohse 11,287 12.23 −7.37
United Australia Tanya Wieden 6,266 6.79 +2.54
Greens Paul Bambrick 4,007 4.34 +1.27
Independent Duncan Scott 3,745 4.06 +2.51
Great Australian Carla Svendsen 2,012 2.18 +2.18
Total formal votes 92,311 96.17 +1.98
Informal votes 3,672 3.83 −1.98
Turnout 95,983 88.07 −4.08
Two-party-preferred result
Liberal National Colin Boyce 49,682 53.82 −4.84
Labor Matt Burnett 42,629 46.18 +4.84
Liberal National hold Swing −4.84
Primary vote results in Flynn (Parties that did not get 5% of the vote are omitted)
  National/Liberal National
  Liberal
  Labor
  One Nation
  Palmer United/United Australia Party
Two-candidate-preferred results in Flynn

References

edit
  1. ^ Muller, Damon (14 November 2017). "The process of federal redistributions: a quick guide". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Electoral seat named after flying doctors' founder". ABC News. Retrieved 12 June 2007.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Proposal for Queensland Federal Electoral Redistribution". Australian Electoral Commission. 23 July 2006. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Flynn – Election 2010". 24 January 2010.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Flynn (Key Seat) - Federal Electorate, Candidates, Results". abc.net.au. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  6. ^ Flynn, QLD, 2022 Tally Room, Australian Electoral Commission.
edit

24°29′28″S 149°39′50″E / 24.491°S 149.664°E / -24.491; 149.664