Hamilton – Brisbane 2016

Council margin – LNP 24.6%

Mayoral margin – LNP 26.9%

Incumbent councillor
David McLachlan, since 2006.

Geography
North-eastern Brisbane. Hamilton covers suburbs immediately to the north of the Brisbane river and to the north-east of the Brisbane CBD, as well as Brisbane Airport. Suburbs include Clayfield, Hendra, Albion, Ascot and Kedron.

Redistribution
Hamilton lost Bowen Hills and Newstead to the Central ward, at the south-western edge of the ward boundary. These changes increased the LNP’s council margin from 24.4% to 24.6%, and the mayoral margin also increased from 26.7% to 26.9%.

History
Liberal councillor Tim Nicholls won Hamilton in 2000, and was re-elected in 2004. He resigned in 2006 to run for the state seat of Clayfield, which covers a similar area, and won that seat. Nicholls still holds his state seat, and served as Treasurer in the LNP government from 2012 to 2015.

The 2006 by-election was won by Liberal candidate David McLachlan. He increased his margin from 14.7% (2004 results on 2008 boundaries) to 20.4% in 2008, and further to 24.4% in 2012.

Candidates

• Philip Anthony (Labor)
• Rachel Hannam (Greens)
• David McLachlan (Liberal National)

Assessment
Hamilton is a very safe LNP ward, and McLachlan should be easily re-elected in 2016.

2012 council result

2012 council two-party-preferred result

2012 mayoral result

2012 mayoral two-party-preferred result

Booth breakdown
Booths in Hamilton have been split into three parts: central, east and west. The vast majority of voters in Hamilton ward, including all but one booth, lay at the western edge of the ward. The booths in this area were split into three parts, and Pinkenba ward, closer to the airport, was added to the ‘east’ group.

The LNP’s council primary vote ranged from 57% in the west to 75% in the centre. The ALP’s primary vote ranged from 15% in the centre to 25% in the west, while the Greens vote peaked at 17.6% in the west.