Division of Nicholls

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Nicholls
Australian House of Representatives Division
Division of Nicholls 2022.png
Location of Nicholls (dark green) in Victoria, Australia
Created2019
MP Sam Birrell
Party Nationals
Namesake Sir Douglas Nicholls
Lady Gladys Nicholls
Electors 114,542 (2022)
Area14,773 km2 (5,703.9 sq mi)
DemographicRural and provincial

The Division of Nicholls is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria, which was contested for the first time at the 2019 federal election.

Contents

Geography

Federal electoral division boundaries in Australia are 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]

History

A statue of Sir Douglas and Lady Gladys Nicholls, the division's namesakes Pastor Sir Douglas and Lady Gladys Nicholls Memorial.jpg
A statue of Sir Douglas and Lady Gladys Nicholls, the division's namesakes

The division is named in honour of Sir Douglas and Lady Gladys Nicholls, in recognition of their contributions to the advocacy of Aboriginal rights.

The Division of Nicholls was created in 2019 after the Australian Electoral Commission oversaw a mandatory redistribution of divisions in Victoria. [2] Nicholls replaced the Division of Murray in the same location. It is located in the north of the state, adjoining the Murray River, which forms Victoria's border with New South Wales and includes the towns of Shepparton, Yarrawonga, Seymour, Echuca and Broadford. [3]

Prior to the 2019 election the seat was notionally held by the National Party on a margin of 22.3%, making it a very safe seat for the party. [4] Its predecessor had been safely conservative for nearly its entire existence since its creation in 1949, with the Liberal Party and the National Party holding it for long spells. Indeed, much of this region has been held by a conservative party since Federation; the area was part of the Division of Echuca from 1901 to 1937, then Indi from 1937 to 1949.

The final member for Murray, Damian Drum of the Nationals, followed most of his constituents into Nicholls and easily retained it, albeit with a small swing against him.

Members

ImageMemberPartyTermNotes
  Aus LNP MPs Bangkok (cropped Drum).jpg Damian Drum
(1960–)
Nationals 18 May 2019
11 April 2022
Previously held the Division of Murray. Retired
  Nationals Placeholder.png Sam Birrell
(1975–)
21 May 2022
present
Incumbent

Election results

2022 Australian federal election: Nicholls [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
National Sam Birrell 24,88626.14−25.13
Independent Rob Priestly24,28725.51+25.51
Liberal Steve Brooks17,18718.06+18.06
Labor Bill Lodwick10,97011.52−7.89
One Nation Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell 6,2196.53−4.76
United Australia Robert Peterson3,8214.01−1.32
Liberal Democrats Tim Laird3,3663.54+3.54
Greens Ian Christoe3,0583.21−1.00
Fusion Andrea Otto6530.69+0.69
Australian Citizens Jeff Davy3770.40+0.40
Australian Federation Eleonor Tabone3670.39+0.39
Total formal votes95,19192.11−0.43
Informal votes8,1597.89+0.43
Turnout 103,35090.35−2.98
Notional two-party-preferred count
National Sam Birrell 63,91867.15−2.88
Labor Bill Lodwick31,27332.85+2.88
Two-candidate-preferred result
National Sam Birrell 51,22153.81−16.22
Independent Rob Priestly43,97046.19+46.19
National hold 

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References

  1. Muller, Damon (14 November 2017). "The process of federal redistributions: a quick guide". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  2. "Names and boundaries of federal electoral divisions in Victoria decided". Australian Electoral Commission. 20 June 2018.
  3. "Map: Division of Nicholls" (PDF). Australian Electoral Commission.
  4. "2017-18 Federal Redistributions - Victoria". ABC Elections. 20 June 2018.
  5. Nicholls, VIC, 2022 Tally Room, Australian Electoral Commission.