ELECTORATE PROFILE

THE electorate of Braddon was named in honour of Sir Edward Nicholas Coventry Braddon, 1829–1904, who was an active member of the Constitutional Conventions that led to the Commonwealth of Australia.

Between 1901 and 1904 Sir Edward was elected one of the first members of the House of Representatives as a member for Tasmania and later for the division of Wilmot.

Before this, Sir Edward served as agent-general for Tasmania and was a member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly and premier of Tasmania.

LOCATION

THE electorate of Braddon covers an area of 21,369.24 square kilometres.

It includes: - the city of Burnie - the municipality of Central Coast - the municipality of Circular Head - the city of Devonport - the municipality of King Island - the municipality of Latrobe - the municipality of Waratah-Wynyard, and - the municipality of West Coast

PRODUCTS/INDUSTRIES

THE area’s major primary industries include forestry, fishing, aquaculture, kelp harvesting, dairying, beef cattle production, and vegetable, poppy and pyrethrum growing. Vegetable processing, cheese manufacture, sawmilling and woodchipping complement these activities. Mining and tourism are other major industries.

DEMOGRAPHIC

BRADDON is considered a rural demographic – outside a capital city and without majority of enrolment in major provincial cities.

MEMBERS

Keay, J* (ALP) 2016– Whiteley, B (LP) 2013–2016 Sidebottom, S (ALP) 2007–2013 Baker, M (LP) 2004–2007 Sidebottom, S (ALP) 1998–2004 Miles, C (LP) 1984–1998 Groom, R J (LP) 1975–1984 Davies, R (ALP) 1958–1975 Luck, A W G (LP) 1955–1958 *Justine Keay resigned as the member for Braddon in May 2018 and is contesting today’s by-election.