The retiring National MP is Russell Turner, who has represented Orange since a 1996 by-election.
A rural electorate in the state's central west that takes in the major regional city of Orange, but also extends north and east to take in Wellington, Mudgee and Gulgong.
The electorate of Orange has existed since 1859, with the exception of the period 1920-27 when it was included in the multi-member Bathurst electorate during the state's flirtation with proportional representation. Orange has been held by the National Party since 1947 and has had only three sitting MPs in sixty years. Orange was represented by former Country Party Leader and Deputy Premier Charles Cutler 1947-75, followed by Fahey government Minister Garry West 1975-96, and Russell Turner since 1996. Both Cutler and West retired at by-elections, meaning this seat has not seen a change of sitting member at a general election since 1947.
The 2-party preferred margin from 2007 is being used. Independent John Davis finished ahead of Labor, producing a National 2-candidate preferred margin versus Davis of 11.7%.
Rossiter has lived in Orange for 21 years. She completed her Nursing Degree in 2000 and now works in her specialty area as a Theatre Nurse at Orange Base Hospital. Rossiter is also half way through a Masters of Health Science. She was active in initiating and bringing to Orange a Fairy Sparkle Garden for the children’s ward and Star Search talent contest and fundraiser. Rossiter was elected to Council in 2004 and again in 2008.
56 year-old Duffy is a former Mayor of Cabonne Shire Council. He was the Labor candidate in Orange at the 2007 state election, and contested Calare at the 2010 Federal election.
Gee is originally from Maitland, moving to Sydney to study Economics and Law at Sydney University. After university he commenced practice as a solicitor, then moved to Hong Kong where he set up a business with his brothers before returning to Australia in 1999. He was called to the NSW Bar in 2003 and moved to Orange in 2005 where he runs a legal practice.
Nugent is a senior manager in a community organisation that delivers employment, training and youth services. His working life prior to this included 18 years in the public sector working for various agencies in Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane. He is a committee member and volunteer in community development groups such as ECCO Orange, Central West Permaculture and the ELF Community Garden Group. He has lived in Orange for the past nine years with his wife and two daughters.
Davis has operated a car dealership in Orange for more than three decades, but in the 1980s he chose to live in nearby Blayney Shire, where he served on the council for 17 years, including ten years as Mayor. A move back to Orange a decade ago saw him contest Orange City Council at the 2004 local government elections. Playing on perceptions that Orange Council was not consulting enough with ratepayers, he was one of several newcomers elected in 2004, and was promptly elected Mayor by the new council, a position he still fills. He contested the electorate of Orange at the 2007 election, finishing ahead of Labor with 23.6% of the vote. He announced he was contesting the 2011 election just before the close of nominations.