Division of Blaxland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BlaxlandAustralian House of Representatives Division |
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Division of Blaxland (green) in New South Wales
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| Created | 1949 |
| MP | Jason Clare |
| Party | Labor |
| Namesake | Gregory Blaxland |
| Electors | 95,362 (2010) |
| Area | 62 km2 (23.9 sq mi) |
| Demographic | Inner Metropolitan |
The Division of Blaxland is an area in New South Wales, Australia. It's a special area used for elections to the Australian House of Representatives. This means people living here vote for someone to represent them in the Australian Parliament. The division covers many western suburbs of Sydney. These include places like Bass Hill, Birrong, Carramar, Chester Hill, Condell Park, Fairfield East, Georges Hall, Guildford West, Old Guildford, Lansdowne, Potts Hill, Regents Park, Sefton, Villawood, Woodpark, Yagoona, and Yennora. It also includes parts of Auburn, Bankstown, Berala, Fairfield, Granville, Guildford, Merrylands, Smithfield and South Granville.
The Division of Blaxland was created in 1949. It is named after Gregory Blaxland. He was an important farmer and explorer in early Australian history.
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Who was Gregory Blaxland?
Gregory Blaxland was a famous explorer. He was one of the first Europeans to cross the Blue Mountains in New South Wales. This happened in 1813. His journey helped open up new lands for settlement beyond the mountains.
The Division of Blaxland is named in his honour. This is a way to remember his important contributions to Australian history.
Meet the Members of Parliament
The Division of Blaxland has always been represented by the Australian Labor Party. This political party has had strong support in Western Sydney for over 100 years.
Here are the people who have represented Blaxland in Parliament:
| Member | Party | Term | |
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| James Harrison | Labor | 1949–1969 | |
| Paul Keating | Labor | 1969–1996 | |
| Michael Hatton | Labor | 1996–2007 | |
| Jason Clare | Labor | 2007–present | |
Paul Keating: A Prime Minister from Blaxland
One of the most well-known members for Blaxland was Paul Keating. He was the Prime Minister of Australia from 1991 to 1996. The Prime Minister is the leader of the Australian Government.
Jason Clare: The Current Member
The current member for Blaxland is Jason Clare. He took over from Michael Hatton in 2007. Before becoming a Member of Parliament, Jason Clare worked for Bob Carr. Bob Carr was the Premier (leader) of New South Wales.
Jason Clare has held important roles in the government. He has been the Cabinet Secretary, the Minister for Justice, and the Minister for Home Affairs. These roles involve making important decisions about how Australia is run and kept safe.
