Division of Wills

Wills is an Australian electoral division (electorate) of Victoria. It is currently held by the Australian Labor Party's Kelvin Thomson.

Related Topics:
Australian electoral division - Victoria - Australian Labor Party - Kelvin Thomson

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The electorate encompasses many of the suburbs in the Moreland city council. It was named after William John Wills of Burke and Wills fame.

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One of Labor's safest seats with a 20 per cent swing required for the Liberals to win, Wills has been always been held by the ALP except between the 1992 by-election and 1996, when it was held by independent Phil Cleary. Its highest-profile member was former Prime Minister Bob Hawke.

Related Topics:
Liberals - ALP - Bob Hawke

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The 1992 by-election is remarkable for a number of reasons: It was caused by Bob Hawke's retirement from parliament; it had twenty-two candidates standing; it was won by an independent; the results were thrown out as the winner, Phil Cleary, was on unpaid leave from the state education system (the Australian Constitution forbids people employed by the Crown from standing for election). No replacement by-election was held as the court decision which threw out the results was made shortly before a general election was due.

Related Topics:
Australian Constitution - The Crown

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