Pittwater – NSW 2011

LIB 9.4% vs IND

Incumbent MP
Rob Stokes, since 2007.

Geography
Northern beaches of Sydney. The seat covers all of Pittwater council area and northern parts of Warringah council area. The seat covers Narrabeen, Warriewood, Elanora Heights, Mona Vale, Newport, Avalon and Scotland Island.

History
The seat of Pittwater has existed since the 1973 election. It has been dominated by the Liberal Party throughout that period. The Liberal Party has won the seat at every general election, although it was won by an independent at the 2005 by-election, and he held the seat until 2007.

The seat was first won in 1973 by Liberal Premier Robert Askin. He had first been elected to Parliament in 1950 as the member for the new seat of Collaroy. He became Leader of the Opposition in 1959, and ended 24 years of Labor rule in NSW when he became Premier at the 1965 election.

Collaroy was abolished in 1973, and Askin moved to the new seat of Pittwater, covering much of the same territory as his former seat. Askin retired as Premier and from Parliament in 1975.

The 1975 Pittwater by-election was won by Liberal candidate Bruce Webster. He held the seat until 1978.

Pittwater was won in 1978 by Liberal candidate Max Smith. He won re-election in 1981 and 1984, but after winning a third term in 1984 he resigned from the Liberal Party to sit as an independent. He resigned from Parliament in 1986.

The 1986 by-election was won by Liberal candidate Jim Longley. He served as a minister from 1992 to 1995, and retired in 1996.

Another by-election was held in 1996, and was won by John Brogden. He was promoted to the Coalition frontbench after the 1999 election. In March 2002, he challenged Opposition Leader Kerry Chikarovski and won a narrow party room vote. He led the Liberal Party to a landslide defeat in 2003, but later in the term appeared on track to win the next election.

Following the retirement of Premier Bob Carr in 2005, Brogden was exposed for offensive comments he made about the retiring Premier’s wife, and he was forced to resign as Liberal leader. Shortly after, he made an unsuccessful suicide attempt, and resigned as Member for Pittwater.

At the following by-election, the Liberals were hit hard by accusations that Brogden’s opponents in the party had pursued him and brought about the end of his political career. The seat was won by independent candidate Alex McTaggart, the Mayor of Pittwater.

At the 2007 election, McTaggart lost to Liberal candidate Alex Stokes, a former advisor to John Brogden. Stokes now serves as Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Planning.

Candidates

• Pat Boydell (Labor)
• Mark McFarlane (Christian Democratic Party)
• Rob Stokes (Liberal)
• Jonathan King (Greens)

Political situation
Stokes should win re-election with ease, and is unlikely to again face a strong independent challenge.

2007 result

2007 two-candidate-preferred result

Booth breakdown
Almost all polling booths in Pittwater lie in close proximity to the coast. These booths have been divided into four areas, from north to south: Avalon, Newport, Mona Vale and Narrabeen. The sole inland booth of Terrey Hills has been grouped with Narrabeen.

The Liberal Party won a two-candidate-preferred majority over independent candidate Alex McTaggart in all areas. It varied from 51% in Avalon to 63% in Mona Vale.