Sea-changers and shifting political loyalties in the Northern Rivers of NSW 1966-2007

Abstract

Since the 1970s Australia has witnessed a sustained population movement to sea-change locations. The impact of this change on regional politics has been poorly studied. This article examines how in the Northern Rivers - one of Australia's principal sea-change destinations - this phenomenon reshaped voting patterns for the NSW Legislative Assembly. Previously, voters cast their ballots largely along class and occupational lines. The region's historic constituency of farmers and rural workers now united behind those politicians, of whatever persuasion, whom they believed to be most capable of defending traditional industries. New constituencies concerned with the protection of the natural environment opposed them.