Division of Parramatta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids ParramattaAustralian House of Representatives Division |
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Division of Parramatta (green) in New South Wales
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| Created | 1901 |
| MP | Julie Owens |
| Party | Labor |
| Namesake | Parramatta, New South Wales |
| Area | 56 km2 (21.6 sq mi) |
| Demographic | Inner Metropolitan |
The Division of Parramatta is an area in New South Wales that gets to choose a representative for the Australian Parliament. It was first set up in 1900 for Australia's very first national election in 1901. The area is named after the suburb of Parramatta. The word Parramatta comes from an Aboriginal language and means "the place where the eels lie down."
This division is located in the western suburbs of Sydney. It includes many different places like Constitution Hill, Dundas Valley, Granville, Harris Park, Holroyd, Mays Hill, North Parramatta, Oatlands, Old Toongabbie, Parramatta, Rosehill, Rydalmere, Telopea, Wentworthville, and Westmead. It also covers parts of Dundas, Ermington, Guildford, Merrylands, Merrylands West, Northmead, North Rocks, Pendle Hill, South Granville, and South Wentworthville.
The Parramatta division is in a unique spot. It sits between areas that usually vote for the Labor Party in western Sydney and areas that often vote for the Liberal Party on the North Shore. This means that if the boundaries of the division change, it can affect which political party is more likely to win the seat. For example, after a boundary change in 2006, it was thought the seat might become easier for the Liberal Party to win. However, Julie Owens from the Labor Party still won with even more votes.
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People Who Have Represented Parramatta
The people who represent an area in Parliament are called "Members." The Division of Parramatta has had several important members over the years.
Early Representatives
One of the most famous early members was Sir Joseph Cook. He represented Parramatta from 1901 to 1921. He even became the Prime Minister of Australia from 1913 to 1914. After him, other members like Herbert Pratten and Eric Bowden represented the area.
Later Members and Changes
Later, Sir Frederick Stewart and Howard Beale were members. Sometimes, a member might leave their job before the next election. When this happens, a special election called a "by-election" is held to choose a new member. This happened several times in Parramatta's history. For example, Sir Joseph Cook left to become Australia's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. Later, Sir Garfield Barwick resigned to become the Chief Justice of Australia's highest court, the High Court.
Recent Representatives
In more recent times, John Brown and Paul Elliott represented Parramatta for the Labor Party. Then, Ross Cameron represented the Liberal Party. Since 2004, Julie Owens from the Labor Party has been the member for Parramatta.
Images for kids
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The suburb of Parramatta, which the division is named after.
