Named after former Prime Minister Ben Chifley, the federal electorate of Chifley was first contested at the 1969 election.
Key industries in the electorate include manufacturing and service industries, reflecting the area’s traditional position as a Labor stronghold.
With a 12.3 per cent margin, incumbent Labor MP Ed Husic is likely to hold his seat, but his 22-year-old opponent will give him a run for his money as the Liberals set their sights on Western Sydney voters.
GEOGRAPHY
Chifley covers 135 sq km in Sydney’s west, covering suburbs like Blacktown, Mount Druitt and Plumpton, north of the Western Highway.
Suburbs in the area include Arndell Park, Bidwill, Blackett, Colebee, Dean Park, Dharruk, Doonside, Emerton, Glendenning, Hassall Grove, Hebersham, Huntingwood, Lethbridge Park, Marayong, Minchinbury, Mount Druitt, Oakhurst, Plumpton, Rooty Hill, Ropes Crossing, Shalvey, Shanes Park, Tregear, Whalan, Willmot, Woodcroft and parts of Eastern Creek, Blacktown, Quakers Hill, Schofields and Riverstone.
CONTENDERS
Chifley is currently held by Ed Husic, a Blacktown local and former National President of the Communications Electrical and Plumbing Union.
Mr Husic because Australia’s first Muslim frontbencher when he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd this year.
The Chifley MP faced some anti-Islamic abuse when he took his oath of office on the Koran, but responded saying: “I couldn't obviously take my oath on a Bible...I am who I am".
Mr Husic is facing off against 22 year-old Liberal candidate Isabelle White.
The Blacktown councillor gained national media attention when poor polling in Western Sydney convinced former Prime Minister Julia Gillard to stay in the Chifley suburb of Rooty Hill for a week earlier this year.
OTHER CANDIDATES
The Greens: Ben Hammond
The DLP: Michael Wright
Palmer United Party: Christopher Ernest Buttel Christian
Democratic Party: Dave Vincent
One Nation: Elizabeth May Power
Australia First Party: Alex Norwick
Independent: Ammar Khan
PEOPLE
Population: 166,307
Median age: 32
Families: 43,620
Average children per family: 2
Median weekly household income: $1,205
Statistics paint Chifley as a very multicultural seat, popular with young families. 81.2 per cent of households identify as family households, above the national average of 71.5.
Over half of Chifley residents (56 per cent) have parents born overseas, with the most common ancestry coming from the Philippines (8.6 per cent), India (3.4 per cent) and New Zealand (2.9 per cent).
This means that almost half (43.8 per cent) of Chifley households speak a language other than English, with Tagalog (5.4 per cent), Arabic (3.9 per cent) and Hindi (3.6 per cent) being the most commonly spoken.
However families in the Chifley electorate are heavily dependent on public transport. Almost 1 in 5 residents use trains or busses as their primary form of transport – twice the national average.
Rent and mortgage repayments are also concerns for many households with 12.4 per cent of renters and 13.6 per cent of mortgage owners spending more than 30 per cent of their household income on repayments.
IN DEPTH: CHIFLEY SUBURB OF ROOTY HILL
And go here for a look at some of the key seats to watch on election night.
