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Melbourne Ports, originally based around Melbourne’s docks and factories, was once one of the safest Labor seats in the country. So safe that on four occasions Labor’s candidates were elected unopposed. It had been held by Ted Holloway a boot maker who became a minister in the Scullin government and Frank Crean, father of Simon Crean and deputy prime minister at the dismissal of the Whitlam government. But now Michael Danby describes Melbourne Ports as the electorate where ‘the cappuccino set meets the bortsch belt.
The seat has become almost marginal. In 2001 Danby actually received fewer primary votes than his liberal challenger. His primary vote fell 4.7 per cent and the Greens and Democrats combined topped 20 per cent, one of their best showings in the nation and not far behind neighbouring Melbourne, where the Greens and Democrats together topped 25 per cent. Those eye-catching performances were no doubt fuelled by a backlash against the major parties’ tough stance on refugees. Their preferences elected Danby but Labor’s once mighty margin is down to 5.7 per cent.
A warrior of the Labor right, Danby has held Melbourne Ports since 1998. On factional conflict, he quotes former British Labor leader Hugh Gaitskell: ‘We fight and fight again for the soul of the party’.
Danby’s father was a German Jew, Kurt Joachim Danziger. During Kristallnacht, the ‘night of broken glass’ in November 1938, he was arrested along with his father and younger brother in the first whirlwind of the Holocaust. Danby’s grandmother Margarethe bribed the SS to release her sons from the Gross-Rosen concentration camp, put them on a ferry to Sweden, ‘waved them goodbye and never saw them again’. She died in Auschwitz in 1943 while Danby’s grandfather perished in the concentration camp at Theresienstadt. Danby’s father’s name was anglicised to Fred Danby when he arrived in Australia in 1939.
A part of the generation politicised by the Whitlam government, Danby joined the ALP in 1974, but with a lifetime loathing of fascism and communism, aligned himself with the unfashionable Right of the party. As a student leader at Melbourne University, where he studied commerce and arts without graduating, he formed alliances with Peter Costello, Michael Kroger and Tony Abbott to break the grip of the far left on student politics.
Danby started his run towards parliament as an assistant private secretary to MP Barry Cohen in 1983. He edited the Australian/Israel Review from 1986-1993, worked as an industrial officer for the conservative shop assistant’s union for two years and was mentored by the first woman Speaker of the house, Joan Child.
With two children Byron at secondary school and Laura at primary school, he survived a bitter preselection coloured by an acrimonious divorce and allegations of branch stacking. Under new leader and factional ally Simon Crean he was elected in 2001 as a Labor Whip. He has been secretary of the caucus nation security and trade committee and a member of the ALP’s social policy committee and the joint select committee on electoral matters.
From his electorate office, Danby looks out onto one of the nation’s most notorious red-light districts: Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. Rich and poor live in close proximity in Melbourne Ports. Bayside South Melbourne, Albert Park and Elwood are filled with university educated professionals, but there are also higher-than-average poverty levels. In his maiden speech to parliament, Danby said, ‘Melbourne Ports is a community where some people are struggling to make their next million but many are struggling to make their next meal’.
Melbourne Ports has the largest voter turnover of the nation’s 150 electorates, about a third of its voters every parliamentary cycle. It has the largest number of people living alone and single professional women. It also has the most non-Christians and immigrants from the former Soviet Union. With 29 per cent of the electorate Jewish, Danby likens it to a lower East Side congressional district in New York. Danby’s political heroes include Bob Hawke, John F. Kennedy and WinstonChurchill, and he quotes Teddy Roosevelt on politics: ‘It’s a bully pulpit’.
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There was a favourable election report on the Melbourne Ports Victory in the Melbourne Weekly. Click here
Look who is suppporting Michael Danby on August 21. Click here
The Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O'Connor today announced that, if re-elected, a Gillard Government will extend the highly successful Secure Schools Program, which has already improved security at 54 schools across Australia. Click here Michael Danby calls for Liberal candidate for Melbourne Ports to disassociate himself from fake Danby website. Click here Emerald Hill Weekly interviews Michael Danby on rise La Gillarde. Click Here
So, what is Australia's National Broadband Network? Why is it so important and what will it mean for every Australian? Click here
Federal Labor's School Building Program saw the culmination of nearly a decades hard work by Galilee Primary School principal, Frank Cervillo with the opening of the schools multi-purpose hall, replacing a derelict under croft. Michael Danby representing Education Minister Julia Gillard said with the addition to the school precinct, Father Bob McGuire, Father David Hoffman, the local Catholic community and the Catholic Education office now saw Galilee and an adornment to the Catholic Education system. Click here.
Before Australia's Parliament leglislates autonomous sactions against Iran, Australia welcomed United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1929 imposing new sanctions against Iran, adopted overnight in New York. Click here
Danby examines how the Federal Labor Government is addressing Public Housing in Melbourne Ports. Click here
Broadcaster and eminent theatrical producer John Michael Howson writes to Michael Danby on Passports Affair. Click here
Michael Danby, has welcomed the Treasurer's 2010 Federal Budget which is economically responsible and provides relief for the people of Melbourne Ports experiencing cost of living pressures, while also affording additional incentives for saving. Click here
New Salvation Army Crisis Accommodation Centre opened by Michael Danby and Minister for Housing Tanya Plibersek. Click here
Malaysian Militant attacks Danby in Malaysian Parliament, Click here
Michael Danby, argued not to accept the Stern Hu bribery conviction, as it may have been given under duress Click here
Michael expressed his doubts about the fairness of Chinese legal system and its dealing with the Australian citizen Stern Hu. Follow the link to see Michael Danby on Bloomberg TV's 'The Trade', speaking on Stern Hu Click here
Michael Danby criticised Tony Abbott's undignified jibes in front of Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Click here
Michael Danby welcomed the resumption of Middle East Peace Talks and pointed to generous offers made to the Palestinians by previous Israeli leader Ehud Olmert-see map, click here
More than 400 people attended a function at the St Kilda Town Hall on February 15 to pay tribute to Danby's work in the electorate for more than 11 years. Click here
Over 60 Australian Mp's and Senators signed a letter to the Malaysian Government asking to drop the charges against Anwar Ibrahim. Click here
Michael Danby says the ABC wont kow-tow to the Chinese communist party, click here.
Click here to read Laurie Oakes's overview of proposals that would cost the taxpayer $500 million dollars to finance political parties, published in The Herald Sun on the 19th of December, 2009.
Click here to read the speech delivered by Governor-General Bryce on Sir Zelman Cowen's 90th Birthday.
Julie Bishop makes a desperate and out of context attack on Michael Danby. Click here
Michael Danby has called the Liberal Party's recent outburst on Border Security nonsense. Follow the link to see Minister for Immigration & Citizenship, Chris Evans, discuss the recent influx of asylum seekers on Lateline (October 14), click here, or more recently the Minister's interview on the 7.30 Report on the 21st of October. Click here
Michael Danby delivered a detailed speech on New Matilda and Crikey.com declaring them the ‘dark and ugly recesses of the internet' . Mr Danby called on Crikey owner Eric Beecher to explain his publications failure to moderate racist comments. Click here.
Beijing's treatment of minority groups. Says a cover story of the Aust. Jewish News. Click here
An All party delegation to India consisting of 6 mps had their outrage towards the recent attacks on Indian students reported in the Economic Times (of India). Click here
Michael Danby promoted the Harmony Day Walk in the Hindustan Times on the 4th of July Click here and on the same day the Sunday Tribune (of Bangalore) newspaper reported on the delegations outcry at the attacks on Indian Students Click here
25 May 2009: Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Migration Michael Danby, today tabled the 2nd of the Committee's reports into immigration detention. For Michael's tabling speech please click here. Please click here for the media release.
Local area receives Budget millions. Please click here for information on the benefits Melbourne Ports is receiving in the 2009-10 Budget.For a macro explanation of the budget, please see this interview with Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner and this interview with Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Local small businesses were winners in this year's budget. There will be an increase and extension of the Small Business and General Business Tax Break. For more information please see these links to Media Releases from the Minister for Small Business Craig Emerson.
Media Release 1 Media Release 2
The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd blasted Iran's role in undermining the anti racism essence of last week's UN conference, which had the stated objective of opposing bigotry. Click here
New Electoral Commissioner Ed Killesteyn explained that 1.2 million Australians are not enrolled to vote, to see his dramatic opening statement to the Electoral Matters Committee click here.
Chinese Ambassador ticks off Member for Melbourne Ports. Danby welcomes his felicitous response: SMH article, Canberra Times articleForeign Minister defends Danby's appearance at rally click here
Michael Danby today announced that 28 local schools in Melbourne Ports will receive $4 million for minor infrastructure and refurbishment projects under Round One of the National School Pride (NSP) program. Click here
Pauline Hanson drops her bundle appearing on Today Tonight (channel 7) and walks out on an interview over questions about the $200 000 bonus she received, for receiving 4% of the Queensland Senate vote ($2.10 per voter) at the 2007 election click here. To read how Michael Danby exposed her earlier funding rort Click here
The Joint Committee on Migration established a new paradigm for the humane but rational treatment of asylum seekers. Click here.
Clive James, one of Australia's most celebrated expatriates penned the following poem in the Australian Literary Review. September 7 2007
