Created 1901 Electors 109,580 (2016) Founded 1901 Elector 109,580 | Demographic Rural | |
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Area 68,394 km (26,407.1 sq mi) Party National Party of Australia | ||
The Division of New England is an Australian electoral division in the state of New South Wales. The division is located in the north-east of the state, adjoining the border with Queensland. The division was proclaimed in 1900, and was one of the original 75 divisions to be contested at the first federal election. It is named after the New England region in northern New South Wales.
Contents
The division includes such towns as Armidale, Ashford, Barraba, Bingara, Bundarra, Glen Innes, Gunnedah, Guyra, Inverell, Manilla, Quirindi, Tamworth, Uralla, Werris Creek, Walcha and Tenterfield. The Division covers a largely rural area, with agriculture the main industry.
The current member since the 2013 federal election is Barnaby Joyce who currently serves as Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and leader of the National Party.
History
Historically, New England has been one of the most conservative seats in Australia. Only one Labor member has ever won it.
From 1922 to 2001, the seat was held by the National Party, and for most of that time it was comfortably safe for that party. However, between 2001 and 2013, it was represented by independent Tony Windsor. Windsor retired in 2013, and former Queensland Senator Joyce reclaimed it for the Nationals.
The seat's best-known member was Ian Sinclair, leader of the National Party from 1984 to 1989, a minister in the Menzies, Holt, Gorton, McMahon and Fraser governments and Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives for a few months in 1998.
2015 abolition of Charlton
Under the original redistribution proposal in 2015, the Australian Electoral Commission announced it intended to abolish Hunter. Electors in the north of Hunter would have joined New England. Ultimately however, the Commission opted for a less radical proposal that saw Charlton abolished, Hunter pushed eastward to absorb most of Charlton's territory, and New England absorbing a few small areas in Hunter's north. Due to changing populations, overall New South Wales lost a seat while Western Australia gained a seat.