Created in 1984 and named after Australian artist William Dobell, the Central Coast seat is largely a safe Labor electorate, but discontent with the NSW party and lingering accusations of fraud against the seat's sitting MP Craig Thomson could see swings towards the Liberal Party.
The seat has garnered attention following the fallout around Mr Thomson who is fighting a legal battle based on allegations he misused a credit card during his time at the Health Services Union.
At the 2010 election, the seat butted national trends as one of only three divisions to record a swing towards Labor of 1.1%.
GEOGRAPHY
Source: ABS
Situated on the NSW Central Coast between the state's two largest cities, Sydney and Newcastle, Dobell includes areas of Wyong Shire, Hawkesbury Shire and Gosford City Council.
The electorate is focused largely around the major business areas of Gosford, The Entrance, Tuggerah and Wyong but other major towns include Ourimbah, Warnervale, Bateau Bay and Blue Haven.
CONTENDERS
Independent MP Craig Thomson(pictured centre). Originally from New Zealand, the current Dobell representative is now standing as an Independent at the 2013 election after Labor Party rules saw him expelled. Mr Thomson is embroiled in ongoing fraud allegations dating back to his time spent working for the Health Services Union. He served as Assistant Secretary of the NSW Branch and also as National Secretary between 2002 and 2007. During this time he is accused of misusing a union credit card, a claim he vigorously denies.
Liberal candidate Karen McNamara(pictured left). A lawyer, Karen McNamara has spent 20 years in the NSW public service. She was selected to run by the Liberal Party state executive despite the party's rank -and-file originally voting for Garry Whitaker. She is the wife of former Liberal candidate John McNamara.
Labor candidate Emma McBride. Previously a Wyong Shire councillor, Emma McBride started out as a Chief Pharmacist at Wyong Hospital before entering politics. She has also acted on the board of the Bendigo Bank and held positions with Rotary International and the San Remo Community Group against drug abuse.
Independent Nathan Bracken (pictured right). The former Australian Test cricketer is running with the support of advertising guru John Singleton, announcing his candidature in the second week of the election campaign. He has said he is running on local issues such as addressing roads, medical health services, education and unemployment rates.
The Greens are running Sue Wynn
Palmer United Party are running Kate McGill.
PEOPLE
Population: 138,042
Families: 37,190
Median age: 39
Median weekly income: $1,039
Dobell is split between two demographics, largely young families and retirees. Close to 45% of the population is aged under 35 years while more than 20% are 60 plus.
The region has a higher than average level of unemployment, at 7%, compared to a national average of 5.6%, according to the latest census data. Of those working, most people work in hospitality or school education.
In terms of ethnic diversity, the overwhelming majority of those in Dobell were born in Australia (82%), with Australian or British ancestry.
Less than 20% of residents were born overseas, arriving from from England (4.3%), New Zealand (1.7%) or Scotland (0.7%).
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 3.2% of the population.
English is spoken at home by more than 90% of the population. Less than 10% of households are bilingual.
More than 70% of the electorate rely on public roads to get to work, using cars rather than public transport.
Hot issues: Unemployment, roads and infrastructure, schools, aged care, health care.
IN FOCUS: DOBELL SUBURB OF WYONG
