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 area in Queensland, Australia. It's like a special zone where people vote for someone to represent them in the Australian Parliament. This person is called a Member of Parliament, or MP.

The current MP for Flynn is Colin Boyce. He belongs to the Liberal National Party of Queensland. He was first chosen by voters in 2022.

What is the Division of Flynn?

The Division of Flynn is one of many special areas in Australia. These areas are called "electoral divisions." People living in each division vote for one person to represent them in the Australian Parliament.

The boundaries of these divisions are decided by a group called the Australian Electoral Commission. They look at how many people live in an area. They also check if the number of voters has changed. These boundaries are usually reviewed every seven years.

History of the Flynn Division

John Flynn, the person Flynn is named after

The Division of Flynn was created in 2006. This happened after a review of how seats were divided in Queensland. The first time people voted in Flynn was during the 2007 federal election.

The area of Flynn stretches west from the port city of Gladstone. It goes all the way to Emerald, a town in the Central Highlands. The division is named after John Flynn. He was a minister who started the Royal Flying Doctor Service. This service helps people in remote areas get medical care.

Why the Name Flynn Was Chosen

In 2006, the Australian Electoral Commission first planned to name this new area "Wright." This was to honor Judith Wright, a famous poet. She was also known for her work in arts and conservation.

However, many people were worried about the name. They thought it might be linked to a former politician named Keith Wright. So, in September 2006, the Commission changed its mind. They decided to name the division after John Flynn instead.

Who Lives in Flynn?

Flynn is home to many people who work in "blue-collar" jobs. This means they often work in industries like mining or manufacturing. The area has a mix of different industries. These include mining and farming. There are also big factories and industries around Gladstone.

How People Vote in Flynn

The city of Gladstone has about 40% of the voters in Flynn. People in Gladstone have often supported the Labor Party. But people in the rural areas of Flynn often vote for the Liberal National Party.

The Labor Party still has strong support in Gladstone and Mount Morgan. They also have many supporters in the Aboriginal community of Woorabinda. In 2019, 71.2% of voters there chose Labor. In other parts of the division, people tend to vote for the Liberal National Party. This is similar to how people vote in nearby areas like Capricornia and Dawson.

Members of Parliament for Flynn

	Image	Member	Party	Term	Notes
		Chris Trevor (1961–)	Labor	24 November 2007 – 21 August 2010
		Ken O'Dowd (1950–)	Liberal Nationals	21 August 2010 – 11 April 2022
		Colin Boyce (1962–)	Liberal Nationals	21 May 2022 – present