Current MP: Clare O'Neil, Labor. 401 Clayton Road, Clayton VIC 3168 03 9545 6211 [email protected]
Major Communities/Cities/Towns within Electorate: Bentleigh East, Dingley Village, Heatherton, Moorabbin, Springvale South and parts of Clayton, Clayton South, Cheltenham, Keysborough, Murrumbeena, Noble Park, Oakleigh, Oakleigh South and Springvale.
Key 2016 Election Information: +0.2% in favour of Clare O'Neil. 45.8% Labor, 37.3% Liberal 9.2% Green 7.7% Other on first party preference voting.
Strongest Support* for Liberal (two party preferred): Bentleigh Central (Hotham) (where LP obtained 56.32% of votes), Dingley Village (LP 55.33%) and Kingston Heath (LP 49.73%).
Strongest Support* for Labor (two party preferred): Springvale West (ALP 74.63% of votes), Coomoora (Hotham) (ALP 74.42%) and Springvale South (ALP 73.67%)
*Note: 'Strongest support' determined using the following criteria: highest % of two-candidate-preferred votes, excluding pre-polling places and polling booths where the number of votes for the winning candidate was less than 1000 or over 5000. This is one example of how you might identify strategic locations in your electorate - for all 2016 election data, please see the AEC Tally Room website.
Background: Clare studied Arts and Law before receiving a scholarship to complete her Masters in Public Policy at Harvard University. At 23, she became the youngest female mayor in Australia, representing the people of Springvale South. Before entering federal politics she also lived and worked in North East Arnhem Land and for McKinsey and Company, a leading management consultancy firm.
Key Policy Background: Clare has previously served on the House of Representatives Standing committees for Agriculture and Industry, Tax and Revenue and Economics. Most recently she has been appointed as Shadow Minister for Justice.
Relevant Information/Links to Community: In her maiden parliamentary speech, Clare spoke directly of Australia’s responsibility to assist in the global refugee issue and the need for diplomatic engagement within our region to enhance and improve safer pathways and host destinations for people seeking asylum. However, she also emphasised the need for strong border force policies and the maintained securitisation of our borders.
Record on Issues Related to Refugees: Clare has demonstrated a strong support for legislation related to the rights of people seeking asylum and refugees. She voted very strongly for increasing scrutiny of asylum seeker management and for implementing refugee and protection conventions. And voted very strongly against temporary protection visas and the regional processing of asylum seekers.
Other Potential Community and Advocacy Links: This is an electorate where nearly half of the population were born overseas, and slightly less than half of its households speak a language other than English at home. The ethnic diversity of this seat is in full display in its major business and shopping districts of Clayton. The Kingston Local Council Network of Community Groups provides opportunities for support, discussion, training and education for all community groups in the Kingston area. Council works with community groups through this network to look at models of sustainability and build the future capacity of our groups.
Key Industries within Electorate: Light industry and commercial activity including light engineering and warehousing.
Additional Information: This is Clare’s second term in Parliament.
Sources:
https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/hotham/clare_o'neil
http://www.abc.net.au/news/federal-election-2016/guide/hoth/
http://www.aec.gov.au/profiles/vic/hotham.htm
http://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=140590