# Division of Dawson

The Division of Dawson is an Australian electoral division in Queensland. It covers areas around the city of Mackay. The current MP is Andrew Willcox of the National Party.

## Geography

Since 1984, federal electoral division boundaries in Australia have been determined at redistributions by a redistribution committee appointed by the Australian Electoral Commission. Redistributions occur for the boundaries of divisions in a particular state, and they occur every seven years, or sooner if a state's representation entitlement changes or when divisions of a state are malapportioned.
The Division of Dawson includes the city of Mackay, as well as other neighbouring towns. It also includes the Whitsunday Islands.

## History

The division was created in 1949 and is named after Anderson Dawson, the first Labor Premier of Queensland and leader of the first parliamentary socialist government anywhere in the world. It is located on the North Queensland coast, taking in the towns of Ayr, Bowen, Mackay, Proserpine and some south-eastern suburbs of the city of Townsville.
Apart from a period from 1966 to 1975 and 2007 to 2010, it has been held by the National Party. While Mackay, the largest city wholly within the electorate, is a longstanding Labor stronghold, it is usually not enough to overcome the region's overall conservative leaning.

## Members

| Member | Party | Term | Notes |
| Charles Davidson (1897–1985) | Country | 10 December 1949 – 1 November 1963 | Previously held the Division of Capricornia. Served as minister under Menzies. Retired |
| George Shaw (1913–1966) | Country | 30 November 1963 – 9 January 1966 | Died in office |
| Rex Patterson (1927–2016) | Labor | 26 February 1966 – 13 December 1975 | Served as minister under Whitlam. Lost seat |
| Ray Braithwaite (1933–) | National Country | 13 December 1975 – 16 October 1982 | Retired |
| Ray Braithwaite (1933–) | Nationals | 16 October 1982 – 29 January 1996 | Retired |
| De-Anne Kelly (1954–) | Nationals | 2 March 1996 – 24 November 2007 | Served as minister under Howard. Lost seat |
| James Bidgood (1959–) | Labor | 24 November 2007 – 19 July 2010 | Retired |
| George Christensen (1978–) | National | 21 August 2010 – 27 March 2022 | Did not contest in 2022. Failed to win a Senate seat |
| George Christensen (1978–) | One Nation | 27 March 2022 – 21 May 2022 | Did not contest in 2022. Failed to win a Senate seat |
| Andrew Willcox (1969–) | National | 21 May 2022 – present | Incumbent |

## Election results

2022 Australian federal election: Dawson :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal National | Andrew Willcox | 40,109 | 43.33 | +0.38 |
| | Labor | Shane Hamilton | 22,650 | 24.47 | +4.19 |
| | One Nation | Julie Hall | 12,289 | 13.27 | +0.18 |
| | Greens | Paula Creen | 6,675 | 7.21 | +2.70 |
| | Katter's Australian | Ciaron Paterson | 5,189 | 5.61 | −0.71 |
| | United Australia | Christian Young | 3,713 | 4.01 | −0.89 |
| | Great Australian | Jim Jackson | 1,948 | 2.10 | +2.10 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 92,573 | 95.86 | +2.87 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 4,001 | 4.14 | −2.87 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 96,574 | 87.49 | −3.30 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal National | Andrew Willcox | 55,930 | 60.42 | −4.19 |
| | Labor | Shane Hamilton | 36,643 | 39.58 | +4.19 |
| | Liberal National hold | Liberal National hold | Swing | −4.19 | |