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Kate Thwaites (ALP-Jagajaga) – Maiden Speech

This is the maiden speech given to the House of Representatives by Kate Thwaites, the ALP member for Jagajaga.

Listen to Thwaites (16m):

Watch Thwaites (18m):

Hansard transcript of maiden speech by Kate Thwaites, ALP member for Jagajaga.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (16:41): Before I call the honourable member for Jagajaga, I remind the House that this is the honourable member’s first speech and I ask the House to extend to her the usual courtesies.

Ms THWAITES (Jagajaga) (16:41): It’s important I begin this speech by acknowledging Australia’s first peoples. I pay my respects to the Ngunawal and Ngambri peoples, the traditional owners of the land on which we meet. I pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging. I also acknowledge that the seat of Jagajaga is on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. [Read more…]


2016 Primary Vote Winners, Preference Vote Losers

There were 16 seats in the 2016 federal election where the primary vote leaders were defeated after the full distribution of preferences.

The ALP benefited in 15 seats and the Nick Xenophon Team in one. In 14 seats, (7 held by the ALP and 7 by the Coalition), the coalition candidate led on primary votes but the seat was won by the ALP after preferences. In one seat, the Liberal lead was overtaken by the Xenophon candidate. In another, the ALP overcame a Greens lead.

The 16 seats were spread across the states: Queensland (4), Victoria (3), South Australia (3), New South Wales (2), Western Australia (2) and Tasmania (2).

Overall, 48 (32%) of the 150 House of Representatives electorates were decided on primary votes, whilst 102 (68%) required preference distribution to obtain a winner.

It is worth noting that 86 of the 102 electorates were won after preferences by the candidates who led the primary vote count. Even with preferences, a primary vote lead is difficult to overcome. [Read more…]