Liberal Party no longer represents Australia’s wealthiest electorates
A look at the map after Saturday’s federal election bloodbath shows how drastically things have changed in one area in particular for the Liberal Party.
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Some of Australia’s wealthiest electorates — seats once safely held by the Liberal Party — have been ripped away.
The result is not just that the Liberal Party no longer represents the top end of town. It is that instead it represents some of the poorest electorates in the country.
In Goldstein, where Liberal Tim Wilson previously represented bayside suburbs like Brighton, Sandringham and Elsternwick, independent Zoe Daniel swept up most of the votes.
In nearby Kooyong, another of the country’s richest electorates, Josh Frydenberg was forced out by another independent, Monique Ryan.
The trend continued in wealthy Sydney seats like Wentworth — home to the highest median house prices in the country in suburbs like Point Piper and Vaucluse — as independent Allegra Spender sent Lib Dave Sharma packing.
In North Sydney, independent Kylea Tink will now represent those from suburbs like Kirribilli and Cremorne and Willoughby after she beat the Liberal Party’s Trent Zimmerman.
Labor’s Michelle Ananda-Rajah, an infectious diseases doctor, defeated Liberal MP Katie Allen in the Melbourne seat of Higgins which represents Glen Iris, Prahran and Toorak.
And in Reid, in Sydney’s inner west, another Labor newcomer, Sally Sitou, defeated Liberal MP Fiona Martin.
Many of the poorest electorates according to Roy Morgan research, went to the Liberal Party — meaning those assessing what comes next will need to look long and hard at who they are fighting for.
It includes constituents in Herbert, Forde, Longman and Braddon — all at the bottom of the list for electorates ranked in order of wealth.
John Roskam from the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) says the flip will have real consequences for the Liberal Party moving forward.
Speaking to Sky News, he said 16 of the “poorest 20 seats” in Australia are now held by the Liberal Party.
“The Labor Party now holds more wealthy seats than does the Liberal Party,” Mr Roskam told Sky News.
“After Saturday night, seven of the wealthiest 20 electorates in Australia are held by the Labor Party, five by the Liberals.
“It’s not just a question of what do the Liberals need to do to get into the government again, it’s a question of what do they want to be, who do they want to fight for.
“And, certainly, from my position, as a Liberal Party member and from the IPA’s position, the people who need a voice are those hit by rise in power prices, are those who are concerned about their children’s education.
“It is not the post-material emotional appeal of the teals, of the Greens, and now of large sections of the Labor Party that the Liberal Party should be repeating.”
There were five seats still in doubt on Monday, but The Australian has now made calls on how two will fall.
Labor’s Brian Mitchell is likely to win Lyons in Tasmania, and in Moore in WA, Ian Goodenough for the Liberals is likely to win.
If those seats fall that way, Labor would move to 77 seats and the Coalition to 56 seats.
That means Gilmore in NSW, Sturt in SA and Menzies in Victoria still remain in doubt.
Speaking after the defeat on Saturday night, then outgoing prime minister Scott Morrison said the nation had spoken and wanted change.
“It is a difficult night for Liberals and Nationals around the country as nights like this always are,” Mr Morrison said.
He spoke about the falling primary vote across the board for both Liberal and Labor — a result that will see more independents and Greens MPs on the crossbench.
“That says a lot I think about the upheaval that is taking place in our nation and I think it is important for our nation to heal and to move forward,” he said.
“Tonight it is a night of disappointment for Liberals and Nationals but it is also a time for Coalition members and supporters all across the country to hold their heads high.
“We have been a strong government. We have been a good government. Australia is stronger as a result of our efforts over these last three terms.”
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Originally published as Liberal Party no longer represents Australia’s wealthiest electorates
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