Division of Parkes
| Parkes Australian House of Representatives Division |
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|---|---|
 Division of Parkes (green) within New South Wales |
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| Created: | 1984 |
| MP: | Mark Coulton |
| Party: | National |
| Namesake: | Sir Henry Parkes |
| Area: | 256,643 km² (99,090 sq mi) |
| Demographic: | Rural |
The Division of Parkes is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. The largest electorate in the state, it is located in the far north of the state, and adjoining the border with Queensland. Its largest population centre is Dubbo. It also includes the towns of Mudgee, Dunedoo, Gunnedah, Coonabarabran, Coonamble, Walgett, Narrabri, Moree, Warren, Nyngan, Cobar and Bourke. The division is named after Sir Henry Parkes, seventh Premier of New South Wales and sometimes known as the 'Father of Federation'.
The Division was proclaimed at the redistribution of 11 October 1984, and was first contested at the 1984 Federal election. The seat is currently a safe Nationals seat. It was substantially changed by the 2006 redistribution and is now considered by many observers as the successor to the abolished Division of Gwydir. As a result, the then member for Parkes, John Cobb, instead contested the Division of Calare. The new member a former Mayor of Gwydir Shire, Mark Coulton.
The former Division of Parkes (1901-69) was located in suburban Sydney, and was not related to this Division except in name.
[edit] Members
| Member | Party | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Cobb | National | 1984–1998 | |
| Tony Lawler | National | 1998–2001 | |
| John Cobb | National | 2001–2007 | |
| Mark Coulton | National | 2007–present | |
[edit] Election results
| Australian federal election, 2010: Parkes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| National | Mark Coulton | 53,154 | 59.23 | +11.07 | |
| Labor | Andrew Brooks | 19,081 | 21.26 | -3.75 | |
| Independent | John Clements | 9,146 | 10.19 | +10.19 | |
| Greens | Matt Parmeter | 5,028 | 5.60 | +2.68 | |
| Independent | Mick Colless | 3,326 | 3.71 | +3.71 | |
| Total formal votes | 89,735 | 94.98 | -0.94 | ||
| Informal votes | 4,745 | 5.02 | +0.94 | ||
| Turnout | 94,480 | 94.32 | -2.20 | ||
| Two-candidate preferred result | |||||
| National | Mark Coulton | 61,789 | 68.86 | +5.19 | |
| Labor | Andrew Brooks | 27,946 | 31.14 | -5.19 | |
| National hold | Swing | +5.19 | |||
[edit] References
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