AT A GLANCE

Cessnock has been a Labor stronghold since 1913, only leaving Labor’s hands for a three-year term when Barry Unsworth’s crackdown on gun laws put Labor on the nose with voters at the 1988 poll.

Bob Carr put Labor back in the good books at the 1991 election, and Labor has held the seat ever since.

Despite the landslide against Labor in 2011, the party’s Clayton Barr hung on in his maiden election, having taken over from the outgoing Kerry Hickey.

Former rocker and now enigmatic political contender Angry Anderson had earlier announced that he would run against Barr in the 2015 poll as a Nationals candidate, but withdrew in February citing personal reasons.

The Nationals have since announced that Jessica Price-Purnell will run.

OUR PREDICTION

Clayton Barr will take a 3.9 per cent margin into the March 28 election, and given the political conditions of the moment he’ll be expected to increase that figure.

Suburbs in electorate: Aberdare, Abermain, Abernethy, Allandale, Barnsley, Belford, Bellbird, Bellbird Heights, Bishops Bridge, Black Hill, Branxton, Broke, Brunkerville, Buchanan, Bucketty, Bulga, Buttai, Cameron Park, Cedar Creek, Cessnock, Cliftleigh, Congewai, East Branxton, Edgeworth, Ellalong, Elrington, Fordwich, Garland Valley, Greta, Greta Main, Heddon Greta, Holmesville, Howes Valley, Kearsley, Keinbah, Kitchener, Kurri Kurri, Laguna, Lochinvar, Lovedale, Loxford, Milbrodale, Millfield, Mount Simpson, Mount Thorley, Mount View, Mount Vincent, Mulbring, Murrays Run, Neath, North Rothbury, Nulkaba, Paxton, Paynes Crossing, Pelaw Main, Pelton, Pokolbin, Putty, Quorrobolong, Richmond Vale, Rothbury, Sawyers Gully, Seahampton, Singleton Military Area, Stanford Merthyr, Stockrington, Sweetmans Creek, Tomalpin, West Wallsend, Weston, Wollemi, Wollombi, Yallambie, Yango Creek.

Currently held by: Clayton Barr, Labor

Margin: 3.9% to Labor

Boundary redistribution: reduced Labor’s margin by 0.5% on 2011 result.

Voters: 52,293

Two-party preferred result 2011: Clayton Barr (Labor) 18,679 beat Alison Davey (Nationals) 15,687

Total population: 74,319

Median age: 37

Total workforce: 33,751

Weekly household income: $1108

People who travel to work by public transport: 372

People who travel to work by car as passenger or driver: 24,215

Couples without children: 7451

Couples with children: 8849

One parent families: 3916

Own house outright: 8974

Own house with mortgage: 10,399

Rent home: 6122

Median monthly mortgage repayment: $1600

Unemployment rate: TBC

CANDIDATES IN BALLOT ORDER

1. Jessica Price-Purnell, The Nationals

2. Julie Johnson, Christian Democratic Party 

3. Domenic Loprieato, No Land Tax

4. Lindy Williams, The Greens

5. Clayton Barr, Labor

* Information collected from 2011 Census, Newcastle Herald archive and Elections NSW.