Midland – WA 2017

ALP 0.4%

Incumbent MP
Michelle Roberts, since 1996. Previously Member for Glendalough 1994-1996.

Geography
Eastern Perth. Midland covers the suburbs of Guilford, Midland, Woodbridge, Viveash, Midvale, Stratton, Jane Brook, Swan View, Greenmount, Koongamia, Bellevue, Helena Valley, Boya, Caversham and parts of Middle Swan. The seats cover parts of Mundaring and Swan councils.

Redistribution
Midland lost Hazelmere to Belmont and gained Caversham from West Swan. These changes slightly increased the Labor margin from 0.1% to 0.4%.

History
The seat of Midland was created at the 1996 redistribution, and was first won by the ALP’s Michelle Roberts.

Roberts was first elected to the seat of Glendalough at a 1994 by-election after the resignation of former Premier Carmen Lawrence.

Glendalough was abolished in 1996, and Roberts won Midland.

She held Midland in 1996 with a 4.3% margin. This was expanded to 13.5% in 2001 before falling back 8.5% in 2005 and 8.3% in 2008.

Roberts was narrowly re-elected in 2013, winning by 24 votes after an 8.2% swing to the Liberal Party.

Candidates

• Daniel Parasiliti (Liberal)
• John Biltoft (Micro Business Party)
• Michelle Roberts (Labor)
• Tony D’Angelo (One Nation)
• Matthew Biggs (Greens)
• Trent Passmore (Shooters, Fishers and Farmers)
• Greg Ross (Julie Matheson for WA)

Assessment
Midland is the most marginal Labor seat in the state. While the seat is not safe, it’s likely that Labor will retain the seat with little trouble, due to a general statewide swing to Labor.

2013 result

2013 two-party-preferred result

Booth breakdown

Booths have been divided into three parts: north-east, south-east and west.

Labor won a majority of the two-party-preferred vote in the north-east (52.1%) and the west (54%), while the Liberal Party won 53.5% in the south-east.

The Greens vote ranged from 7.7% in the north-east to 10.8% in the west.

Two-party-preferred votes in Midland at the 2013 WA state election