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Julian Simmonds (Lib-Ryan) – Maiden Speech

This is the maiden speech to the House of Representatives by the Liberal member for Ryan, Julian Simmonds.

Simmonds

Simmonds was most recently a Brisbane City councillor. He was elected in 2010, 2012 and 2016.

In 2018, Simmonds defeated the previous member for Ryan, Jane Prentice, in a preselection contest. He reportedly won 256 votes to 103 for Prentice.

The electorate of Ryan has existed since 1949. It is named after a former Labor premier of Queensland. The electorate includes part of the Brisbane City Council area and part of the Moreton Bay Regional Council.

Simmonds won 56.03% of the two-party-preferred vote in Ryan, a swing against the Liberal National Party of 2.95%. He polled 48.61% of the primary vote, a loss of 3.51%. The ALP polled 24.43% of the primary vote, an increase of 1.46%. The Greens polled 20.35%, an increase of 1.59%.

Listen to Simmonds (22m):

Watch Simmonds (24m):

Hansard transcript of maiden speech to the House of Representatives by Julian Simmonds, Liberal member for Ryan.

Consideration resumed of the motion:

That the following Address in Reply to the speech of His Excellency the Governor-General be agreed to:

May it please Your Excellency:

We, the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, in Parliament assembled, desire to express our loyalty to our Most Gracious Sovereign, and to thank Your Excellency for the speech which you have been pleased to address to Parliament— [Read more…]


Seats That Swung To The Coalition In The 2016 Federal Election

As counting proceeds in the 2016 House of Representatives elections, it appears that only 16 seats resisted the nationwide swing to the ALP.

Fifteen seats held by the Liberal Party and 1 seat held by The Nationals recorded swings away from the ALP. Thirteen of these seats were already held by the Coalition.

The swings range from 0.09% in Cook to 3.04% in Deakin.

The Liberal Party won just one seat from the ALP, the Melbourne electorate of Chisholm, with a swing of 2.91%.

The national two-party-preferred swing against the Coalition currently stands at 3.16%. Every State and Territory swung to the ALP, ranging from 0.72% in the Australian Capital Territory to 8.90% in South Australia.

The Coalition won the State two-party-preferred contest in NSW (50.42%), Queensland (53.95%) and Western Australia (54.54%). [Read more…]


Jane Prentice (Lib-Ryan) – Maiden Speech

This is the maiden speech by Jane Prentice, the Liberal member for Ryan.

Prentice was elected at the 2010 federal election, replacing Michael Johnson in one of the Liberal Party’s safest seats in Queensland. She polled 57.16% of the two-party-preferred vote.

  • Listen to Jane Prentice (20m)

Hansard transcript of first speech to the House of Representatives by Jane Prentice, Liberal member for Ryan.

Mrs PRENTICE (1:31 PM) —I start by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet—the elders past and present. In this context, Mr Speaker, may I say how delighted I am to be joined on this side of the chamber by the new member for Hasluck. [Read more…]


Is The Ground Shifting?

With the Federal election now only months away, speculation about the likely result is taking on a distinctly different tone from that which has prevailed for much of the year.

In the words of Laurie Oakes in the latest edition of The Bulletin, “you can feel the ground moving. Things are looking better for John Howard, shakier for Kim Beazley.”

The year began with opinion polls showing the coalition struggling federally and in all States. Since 1998, the ALP has won government in Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia. It has been overwhelmingly re-elected in New South Wales and Queensland. [Read more…]