Division of Flynn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Flynn Australian House of Representatives Division
Division of Flynn in Queensland, as of the 2019 federal election
Created	2006
MP	Colin Boyce
Party	Liberal National
Namesake	John Flynn
Electors	109,075 (2022)
Area	132,824 km2 (51,283.6 sq mi)
Demographic	Rural and provincial

The Division of Flynn is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland.

The current MP is Colin Boyce, a member of the Liberal National Party of Queensland. He was first elected in 2022.

Geography

Federal electoral division boundaries in Australia are determined at redistributions by a redistribution committee appointed by the Australian Electoral Commission. Redistributions occur for the boundaries of divisions in a particular state, and they occur every seven years, or sooner if a state's representation entitlement changes or when divisions of a state are malapportioned.

History

John Flynn, the division's namesake

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.

Demographics

Flynn is a largely blue-collar electorate. It tends to support the Liberal National Party. Its industries include a mix of mining and agriculture, as well as heavy industry around Gladstone.

Labor maintains a base of support in Gladstone and Mount Morgan, and in the Aboriginal community of Woorabinda where it recorded 71.2% in 2019. Elsewhere in the electorate, voters skew conservative and vote heavily for the Liberal National Party.

Similar voting trends can be seen in the nearby electorates of Capricornia, Dawson, and Herbert.

Members

	Image	Member	Party	Term	Notes
		Chris Trevor (1961–)	Labor	24 November 2007 – 21 August 2010	Lost seat
		Ken O'Dowd (1950–)	Liberal Nationals	21 August 2010 – 11 April 2022	Retired
		Colin Boyce (1962–)	Liberal Nationals	21 May 2022 – present	Previously held the Legislative Assembly of Queensland seat of Callide. Incumbent