Your Guide to Melbourne's Federal Electorates

Greater Melbourne is represented by approximately 24 federal electorates stretching from the CBD and inner suburbs to the growth corridor seats of Scullin, Hawke, and Lalor in the outer north and west. Melbourne's federal electoral map has shifted significantly in recent elections as the Teal independent movement transformed previously safe Liberal seats into competitive contests.

Inner city electorates — the Division of Melbourne (CBD, Fitzroy, Collingwood, Carlton, Brunswick) is one of the Greens' most prominent federal seats, reflecting the inner-city progressive vote. The Division of Wills (Coburg, Pascoe Vale, Brunswick) is a Labor stronghold. The Division of Macnamara (St Kilda, Caulfield, Brighton) is one of Victoria's most marginal seats, reflecting the diverse voting intentions of the inner south-east.

The Teal effect — the 2022 federal election saw independent Monique Ryan defeat former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg in the Division of Kooyong (Hawthorn, Camberwell, Kew), a seat held by Liberal members since 1955. The adjacent Chisholm and Higgins seats have also seen reduced Liberal margins as inner-suburban professional voters shifted toward independent and Greens candidates on climate and integrity platforms.

Outer suburban seats — the western and northern growth corridor seats (Lalor, Hawke, Scullin, McEwen, Gorton) are Labor strongholds representing Melbourne's working-class and multicultural outer suburbs. These seats have been reliably Labor for decades and provide the party's Victorian electoral base.

Federal infrastructure in Melbourne — Melbourne receives significant federal infrastructure funding through projects including the Suburban Rail Loop (commonwealth co-investment), the Western Sydney Airport parallel (Tullamarine expansion funding), and the National Disability Insurance Agency headquarters, which is located in Geelong rather than Melbourne proper.

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