MP

The retiring Labor MP is Duncan Kerr, who has represented the seat since 1987.

Profile

Denison covers metropolitan Hobart in the lee of Mount Wellington and extends along the western shore of the Derwent River from Austins Ferry in the north to Browns River at Kingston in the south. It covers the cities of Glenorchy and Hobart, as well as a small part of Kingborough Municipality. Denison covers 290 square kilometres, just under 0.4% of the state.

Redistribution

The southern boundary of Denison has moved south into Kingborough as far as Browns River and the Huon Highway. This is estimated to cut the Labor margin from 15.6% to 15.3%.

History/Trivia

Denison is named after Sir William Denison, Lt-Governor of Tasmania 1847-55 and Governor of NSW 1855-61. Denison used to be a litmus test seat, returning a member for the winning party at all but two elections between 1943 and 1996. However, Labor seems to be taking a very firm grip on the electorate, helped by the fact it is the electorate where the Greens generally record their highest vote in the country. Labor's strengthened Federal position in Tasmania since 1993, along with the 1998 election of the first majority State Labor government since 1982, suggests Tasmania has reverted to its traditional position of being a Labor state. Former members for Denison include Liberals Athol Townley (1949-63) and Michael Hodgman (1975-87). Hodgman moved to state politics after a second Federal defeat in 1990, and finally retired from State Parliament at March's state election. His son Will Hodgman has been the Opposition Leader in Tasmania since 2006 and came very close to becoming Premier at the state election in March this year.

Assessment