Electoral district of South Perth

South Perth is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in Western Australia. The district is located in the suburbs immediately south of the Perth central business district.

South Perth
Western AustraliaLegislative Assembly
Location of South Perth (dark green) in the Perth metropolitan area
StateWestern Australia
Dates current1901–1904; 1950–present
MPGeoff Baker
PartyLabor
NamesakeSouth Perth
Electors29,696 (2021)
Area27 km2 (10.4 sq mi)
DemographicMetropolitan

Although occasionally held by an independent, South Perth has typically been a safe Liberal seat. It had never been won by the Labor Party until Geoff Baker won it for the party at the 2021 election.

Geography

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South Perth is made up of affluent waterside areas in Perth's inner south. The district is bounded to the north by the Swan River and to the west and south by the Canning River. A series of roads separates the electorate from neighbouring eastern districts. The seat includes the suburbs of Como, Karawara, Manning, Salter Point, Waterford, as well as parts of the suburbs of Kensington and South Perth.

History

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South Perth was first created for the 1901 state election, largely replacing the abolished seat of Canning, and won by William Gordon. However, Canning was re-created for the 1904 election and South Perth abolished, with Gordon transferring to Canning.

South Perth was eventually revived for the 1950 state election and has existed continuously as an electorate since then. In 1950, it was won by Liberal candidate George Yates, previously the member for Canning. He was succeeded after one term by Bill Grayden, initially as an independent but soon after as a Liberal. Grayden had previously been the state member for Middle Swan and the federal member for Swan. Grayden was the member for South Perth for 37 years, finally retiring in 1993.

The seat's next MP was Phillip Pendal, first elected as a Liberal but twice re-elected as an independent. Upon Pendal's retirement at the 2005 state election, the seat returned to the Liberal fold when current member John McGrath was elected as its representative. McGrath held the seat until his own retirement at the 2021 election and was succeeded by Geoff Baker. Baker's win was historic as he became the first Labor candidate to win the seat.

Members for South Perth

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South Perth (1901–1904)
Member Party Term
  William Gordon Ministerial 1901–1904
South Perth (1950–present)
Member Party Term
  George Yates Liberal Country League 1950–1956
  Bill Grayden Independent Liberal 1956–1959
  Liberal Country League 1959–1968
  Liberal 1968–1993
  Phillip Pendal Liberal 1993–1995
  Independent 1995–2005
  John McGrath Liberal 2005–2021
  Geoff Baker Labor 2021–present

Election results

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2021 Western Australian state election: South Perth[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor Geoff Baker 12,473 49.9 +20.3
Liberal Ryan Chorley 8,846 35.4 −14.7
Greens Mark Brogan 2,597 10.4 −1.4
Liberal Democrats Jack Taylor 617 2.5 +2.5
No Mandatory Vaccination Dwain Hill 440 1.8 +1.8
Total formal votes 24,973 97.0 +0.6
Informal votes 780 3.0 −0.6
Turnout 25,753 86.7 +0.6
Two-party-preferred result
Labor Geoff Baker 15,007 60.1 +17.3
Liberal Ryan Chorley 9,962 39.9 −17.3
Labor gain from Liberal Swing +17.3

References

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