Preston – Victoria 2014

ALP 20.2%

Incumbent MP
Robin Scott, since 2006.

Geography
Northern Melbourne. Preston covers northern parts of Darebin council, covering most of the suburbs of Preston and Reservoir. The electorate has very clear boundaries being bound on the south by Bell Street, on the north by Mahoney’s Road, on the east by Darebin Creek, and on the west by Merri Creek.

Redistribution
Changes were made to Preston’s northern and southern boundaries. In the south, Preston’s border with Northcote was realigned with Bell Street, which saw different parts of the suburb of Preston transferred into and out of the electorate. In the north, Preston’s boundary expanded to take in more of Reservoir from Thomastown. These changes slightly cut Labor’s margin from 20.4% to 20.2%.

History
Preston was created for the 1945 election, and has always been held by the ALP.

It was first won in 1945 by William Ruthven, Mayor of Collingwood, and a recipient of the Victoria Cross in the First World War. He held the seat for the ALP until 1955, when he moved to the new seat of Reservoir, which he held until his retirement in 1961.

Charlie Ring held the seat for the ALP from 1955 to 1970, followed by former Mayor of Preston, Carl Kirkwood, who held the seat from 1970 to 1988.

In 1988, the ALP’s Michael Leighton won the seat, holding it right through to 2006. He served as a shadow minister when Labor was out of government in the 1990s, but never reached the frontbench after Steve Bracks became Premier.

In 2006, Leighton retired and was succeeded by Robin Scott. Scott was re-elected in 2010.

Candidates

• Gaetano Greco (Independent)
• Rachel Ward (Family First)
• Rose Ljubicic (Greens)
• Robin Scott (Labor)
• John Forster (Liberal)

Assessment
Preston is a very safe Labor seat.

2010 election result

2010 two-party-preferred result

Booth breakdown
Booths in Preston have been divided into four parts: central, north, south-east and south-west.

The ALP won a large majority of the two-party-preferred vote over the Liberal Party ranging from 67.9% in the north to 74% in the south-east.

The Greens came third, with a vote ranging from 11.9% in the north to 24% in the south-west.