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Meers was not seeking another term as Lord Mayor because it was obvious that Civic Reform was about to lose control of the City Council. On regaining the State Government, the ALP had reversed the changes in the City boundaries, moving them out to encompass working class residential areas. Voting at local government elections was once again compulsory, which favoured a higher turnout of Labor voters.

For the next few months the speculation on a Liberal candidate for Manly continued. Preselection for all parties had to await the redistribution of State Electorates.

In mid 1980 the final boundaries were announced. The Manly Electorate had been enlarged towards the north-west by the addition of a new subdivision of Allambie, an incease in electors of 6%. This slightly favoured the ALP. The area was mostly working class but it was less predictable in voting pattern than the older, more established suburb of Harbord.

I was disappointed that the Electoral Commissioners had rejected my suggestion for moving some of the Balgowlah subdivision out of the electorate. We were stick with that "tiger country".

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