Created 2006 Electors 100,660 (2016) Founded 2006 Elector 100,660 | MP Ken O'Dowd Demographic Rural Member of parliament Ken O'Dowd Namesake John Flynn | |
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Area 133,063 km (51,375.9 sq mi) Party Liberal National Party of Queensland | ||
The Division of Flynn is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland. The division was created in 2006, following a redistribution of seats in the state. It was first contested at the 2007 federal election. The electorate generally extends west from the port city of Gladstone, as far as the Central Highlands town of Emerald. It was named after John Flynn, founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Formation
In June 2006, the Australian Electoral Commission announced that the new federal electorate in Queensland to be created for the 2007 election would be named Wright in honour of Judith Wright for her life as a "poet and in the areas of arts, conservation and indigenous affairs in Queensland and Australia". However, in September 2006 the AEC announced that, due to numerous objections from people fearing the name may be linked to disgraced former Queensland ALP leader Keith Wright, it would name the seat after John Flynn.
The city of Gladstone, home to 40% of Flynn's voters, has long been a Labor stronghold. However, the rural areas vote in equally large numbers for the Liberal National Party.