Division of Isaacs

Last updated

Isaacs
Australian House of Representatives Division
Division of Isaacs 2025.svg
Division of Isaacs
Interactive map of electorate boundaries from the 2025 federal election
Created1969
MP Mark Dreyfus
Party Labor
Namesake Sir Isaac Isaacs
Electors 120,804 (2025)
Area158 km2 (61.0 sq mi)
DemographicOuter metropolitan
Electorates around Isaacs:
Goldstein Hotham Bruce
Port Phillip Isaacs Holt
Port Phillip Dunkley Holt

The Division of Isaacs is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria. It is located in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, on the eastern shores of Port Phillip Bay. It covers the suburbs of Mordialloc, Keysborough (part), Waterways, Cheltenham (part), Dingley Village, Chelsea, Aspendale, Aspendale Gardens, Edithvale, Bonbeach, Patterson Lakes, Carrum, Parkdale, Mentone, Dandenong South, Highett, Heatherton and Moorabbin.

Contents

Geography

Since 1984, federal electoral division boundaries in Australia have been determined at redistributions by a redistribution committee appointed by the Australian Electoral Commission. Redistributions occur for the boundaries of divisions in a particular state, and they occur every seven years, or sooner if a state's representation entitlement changes or when divisions of a state are malapportioned. [1]

As a result of a periodical boundary redistribution, from the 2025 Australian federal election, Isaacs’ boundaries moved north and east to include the suburbs of Keysborough, Springvale South, Noble Park (part) and Dandenong (part), while losing the suburbs of Chelsea (part), Chelsea Heights (part), Bonbeach, Carrum and Patterson Lakes to neighbouring Dunkley and parts of Moorabbin, Highett and Cheltenham to Goldstein. [2]

History

Sir Isaac Isaacs, the division's namesake Isaac Isaacs 1936 (cropped).jpg
Sir Isaac Isaacs, the division's namesake

The division was named after Sir Isaac Isaacs, former Chief Justice of Australia and the first Australian-born Governor-General of Australia. It was proclaimed at the redistribution of 21 November 1968, and first contested at the 1969 federal election. Originally a marginal seat, it switched regularly between the Liberals and Labor. However, Labor has held it without interruption since 1996, and it is now considered fairly safe for that party.

The former Division of Isaacs (1949–69) was located in the inner south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, and was not related to this division except in name.

Mark Dreyfus became the new Labor member in 2007, and has been re-elected ever since. The division was also contested in 2007 by Laura Chipp, daughter of Don Chipp, for the Australian Democrats.

Members

ImageMemberPartyTermNotes
  David Hamer 1970.jpg David Hamer
(1923–2002)
Liberal 25 October 1969
18 May 1974
Lost seat
  Gareth Clayton 1974 (cropped).jpg Gareth Clayton
(1942–2010)
Labor 18 May 1974
13 December 1975
Lost seat
  David Hamer.jpg David Hamer
(1923–2002)
Liberal 13 December 1975
10 November 1977
Transferred to the Senate
  Liberal Placeholder.png Bill Burns
(1933–2009)
10 December 1977
18 October 1980
Lost seat
  Labor Placeholder.png David Charles
(1948–)
Labor 18 October 1980
19 February 1990
Retired
  Liberal Placeholder.png Rod Atkinson
(1948–)
Liberal 24 March 1990
2 March 1996
Lost seat
  Labor Placeholder.png Greg Wilton
(1955–2000)
Labor 2 March 1996
14 June 2000
Died in office
  Labor Placeholder.png Ann Corcoran
(1951–)
12 August 2000
17 October 2007
Lost preselection and retired
  Mark Dreyfus (2025) (cropped).jpg Mark Dreyfus
(1956–)
24 November 2007
present
Served as minister under Gillard and Rudd. Incumbent. Currently a minister under Albanese

Election results

2025 Australian federal election: Isaacs [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labor Mark Dreyfus 53,45449.41+6.63
Liberal Fiona Ottey30,66028.34−1.20
Greens Matthew Kirwan15,20014.05+1.98
One Nation Geoff McMahon4,9894.61+1.59
Family First Audrey Harmse3,8783.58+3.58
Total formal votes108,18196.47−0.05
Informal votes3,9583.53+0.05
Turnout 112,13992.87+3.76
Two-party-preferred result
Labor Mark Dreyfus 69,60464.34+4.83
Liberal Fiona Ottey38,57735.66−4.83
Labor hold Swing +4.83

References

  1. Muller, Damon (14 November 2017). "The process of federal redistributions: a quick guide". Parliament of Australia.
  2. "2024 Federal Redistributions – Final Boundaries for Victoria Released". 5 September 2024.
  3. Isaacs, Vic, 2025 Tally Room, Australian Electoral Commission.

38°02′20″S145°10′16″E / 38.039°S 145.171°E / -38.039; 145.171