Current MP: Josh Frydenberg, Liberal. 695 Burke Rd, Camberwell, 3124. 03 9882 3677 [email protected]
Major Communities/Cities/Towns within Electorate: Balwyn, Balwyn North, Camberwell, Canterbury, Hawthorn, Hawthorn East, Kew, Kew East and Surrey Hills.
Key 2016 Election Information: +2.3 swing. 58.2% Liberal, 19.8% Labor, 18.9% Green on first party preference voting.
Strongest Support* for Liberal (two party preferred): Cotham (where LP obtained 70.30% of votes), Balwyn Central (LP 68.66%) and Greythorn (LP 66.76%).
Strongest Support* for Labor (two party preferred): Kew (ALP 44.95% of votes), Balwyn North (ALP 38.51%).
*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: Josh studied Law and Economics before completing masters degrees in both international relations and public administration. Since beginning his political career, he has in various roles within the Liberal front bench including, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, Ministry as Minister for Resources, Energy and Northern Australia. He is currently Minister for the Environment and Energy.
Relevant Information/Links to Community: According to an interview with Michelle Grattan, Josh was prominent in the Liberal party’s decision to implement the one-off intake of 12,000 Syrian refugees. Josh’s idea was adapted from Australia’s previous one-off intake program during the Kosovoan conflict, demonstrating a historical understanding of Australia’s humanitarian intake program.
Record on Issues Related to Refugees: Josh has demonstrated a mixed to negative position on policies and practices related to people seeking asylum and refugees. He has a mixed record on legislation related to the implementation of refugee and protection conventions as well as regional processing of people seeking asylum. He has also voted moderately on increasing the scrutiny of the management of people seeking asylum and voted very strongly against ending immigration detention on Manus Island and Nauru.
Other Potential Community and Advocacy Links: According to Josh’s quarterly published ‘Kooyong Community Newsletter,” he has involvement with many civic and social groups within the electorate. Attending a variety of local U3A, Probus, school and church events.
Key Industries within Electorate: Predominantly residential with small business and retail sectors but no major industries.
Additional Information: Josh is the grandson of Polish migrants who fled Europe before the beginning of the second world war. His Great-Aunt survived imprisonment within Auschwitz before escaping and finding refuge in Australia.
Sources:
http://www.joshfrydenberg.com.au/guest/Default.aspx
https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/kooyong/josh_frydenberg