Electoral division of Murchison

For the defunct constituency in Western Australia, see Electoral district of Murchison.

The electoral division of Murchison is one of the fifteen electorates in the Tasmanian Legislative Council, situated in the western/north-west region of the state. It is the largest electorate in size, covering an area of 19,391 km² and includes the municipalities of Circular Head, King Island, Waratah-Wynyard, West Coast and part of Burnie City.

Murchison Tasmania—Legislative Council
Map showing the electoral division of Murchison, as of the 2017 periodic review.[1]
State	Tasmania
Created	1999
MP	Ruth Forrest
Party	Independent
Namesake	Mount Murchison
Electors	27,059 (January 2019)
Area	19,391 km2 (7,486.9 sq mi)
Demographic	Rural
Federal electorate(s)	Braddon
Coordinates	41.665°S 145.348°E / -41.665; 145.348
Electorates around Murchison: Southern Ocean Bass Strait Bass Strait Southern Ocean Murchison Montgomery McIntyre Derwent Southern Ocean Southern Ocean Huon

Ruth Forrest has been the sitting member for Murchison since 2005, she ran unopposed in 2011, and was re-elected in 2017 and 2023. The next scheduled election is in 2029. As of January 2019, there were 27,059 enrolled voters.^[2]

History

The seat of Murchison was created in the redistribution of 1999, and largely replaced the west coast seat of Russell, which had existed since 1885.^[3] The electorate is named after Mount Murchison near Rosebery and the Murchison River (Tasmania) which flows through the region.

Members

Further information: Members of the Tasmanian Legislative Council

The elected members for the seat of Murchison have all sat as independents, including those for the former seat of Russell.^[3]

Member		Party	Period
	Tony Fletcher	Independent	1999–2005
	Ruth Forrest	Independent	2005–present

Election results

Main article: Electoral results for the Division of Murchison

This section is an excerpt from 2023 Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic election § Murchison Results.[edit]

2023 Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic elections: Murchison^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Ruth Forrest	16,542	71.88	+15.20
	Shooters, Fishers, Farmers	Brenton Jones	3,098	13.46	+13.46
	Independent	Codie Hutchison	2,508	10.90	+10.90
	Independent	Gatty Burnett	865	3.76	+3.76
Total formal votes			23,013	96.09	−0.59
Informal votes			936	3.91	+0.59
Turnout			23,949	85.19	+0.79
Registered electors			28,114
	Independent hold

See also

• Australia portal
• Politics portal

• Tasmanian House of Assembly