The Division of Groom is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland.
Groom is an agricultural electorate located on the Darling Downs in southern Queensland. It includes the regional city of Toowoomba and rural communities to the west and south.
The current MP is Garth Hamilton, a member of the Liberal 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.
History
The division was created in 1984 as essentially a reconfigured version of the old Division of Darling Downs, which had existed since Federation. It is named in honour of Sir Littleton Groom, who represented Darling Downs with only one short break from 1901 to 1936 and served as Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives.
It is located in the rural areas west of Brisbane and is centred on the city of Toowoomba, Australia's second largest inland city. Other centres include Oakey and Pittsworth.
Groom's electors have historically been socially conservative. In 2017, it was one of only three electorates in Queensland to vote against the Marriage Survey. However, sentiment is shifting. The 2022 federal election showed a strong increase in votes for independent candidates, with the two-candidate preferred result indicating local independent candidate, Suzie Holt, securing 41.33% of the vote, following distribution of preferences. Issues such as the cost of living and housing affordability are current priorities among voters. The local Liberal MP, Garth Hamilton, has consistenly voted against housing affordability. Mr Hamilton voted against the Housing Australia Future Fund Bill 2023, the Build to Rent program 2024, and the Help to Buy Bill 2023. Mr Hamilton has also voted against increasing funding for university education, which has negatively impacted the local University of Southern Queensland, and its students. Mr Hamilton also voted against making TAFE education fee-free, negatively impacting education, trades, and skill development in the Toowoomba region. https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/groom/garth_hamilton
Members
Election results
Notes
References
External links
- Division of Groom (Qld) — Australian Electoral Commission
