ID :
18164
Fri, 09/05/2008 - 19:12
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/18164
The shortlink copeid
Downer makes last plea to Mayo voters
(AAP) Former foreign minister Alexander Downer says the federal by-election in his former seat of Mayo on Saturday will be decided by a handful of votes.
Mr Downer said a Greens or independent candidate could fall over the line because
nearly all the minor parties and independents were directing preferences away from
Liberal candidate Jamie Briggs.
"That could make all the difference, it's that close," Mr Downer said.
"Labor isn't even running a candidate and part of Labor's sneaky plan is to weaken
the vote of Mayo by hoping that the Liberals lose, due to votes scattering to
independent, Greens and Family First candidates."
The Mayo by-election was forced by Mr Downer's decision to quit parliament and take
up a role with an Adelaide consultancy.
He held the seat for 24 years, first entering the parliament in 1984.
Despite Mr Downer's assessment of Saturday's poll, a predictable rallying call when
a party loses a popular and long-serving member, Mr Briggs remained the firm
favourite to retain the seat for the Liberals ahead of Lynton Vonow of the Greens
and former Liberal but now Family First candidate Bob Day.
Also in the mix was independent Mary Brewerton who stood for the ALP in Mayo at last
year's federal election but was not asked to run again for the party on Saturday
after it decided against contesting the seat.
Muddying the waters is the high number of candidates - 11 are contesting the seat
which runs up the Fleurieu Peninsula, across the Adelaide Hills and touches on some
of Adelaide's affluent eastern suburbs.
Federal Greens Leader Bob Brown said if the Liberals did lose Mayo, no one would be
more to blame than Mr Downer after he decided to quit the parliament, despite only
being returned as the local member less than a year ago.
"Voting Green is an attractive option in Mayo and the best way to focus national
attention on the Murray River," Senator Brown said.
The Greens have also raised concerns at a Liberal Party brochure distributed in Mayo
which is critical of Greens policies without giving full details.
Mr Briggs defended the brochure but Mr Vonow said it distorted the party's policies
and he questioned the Liberal tactics.
"Why not do it in a positive way?
"Why not use all their efforts to promote an alternative vision?" he said.
"I've had many calls this week from people saying that they're disgusted that the
Liberal Party is using such tactics."
The big issue is Mayo has been the fate of the Murray, so much so that the poll has
prompted independent Di Bell to campaign almost entirely on securing the future of
the river system and the lower lakes.
Ms Bell has also won the endorsement of influential independent Senator Nick
Xenophon who called on voters to use her election to send a message to both the
state and federal governments.
The Australian Electoral Commission said it did not expect to be in a position to
call a result in May on election night.
However, it said an indication of a likely outcome was possible.
Mr Downer said a Greens or independent candidate could fall over the line because
nearly all the minor parties and independents were directing preferences away from
Liberal candidate Jamie Briggs.
"That could make all the difference, it's that close," Mr Downer said.
"Labor isn't even running a candidate and part of Labor's sneaky plan is to weaken
the vote of Mayo by hoping that the Liberals lose, due to votes scattering to
independent, Greens and Family First candidates."
The Mayo by-election was forced by Mr Downer's decision to quit parliament and take
up a role with an Adelaide consultancy.
He held the seat for 24 years, first entering the parliament in 1984.
Despite Mr Downer's assessment of Saturday's poll, a predictable rallying call when
a party loses a popular and long-serving member, Mr Briggs remained the firm
favourite to retain the seat for the Liberals ahead of Lynton Vonow of the Greens
and former Liberal but now Family First candidate Bob Day.
Also in the mix was independent Mary Brewerton who stood for the ALP in Mayo at last
year's federal election but was not asked to run again for the party on Saturday
after it decided against contesting the seat.
Muddying the waters is the high number of candidates - 11 are contesting the seat
which runs up the Fleurieu Peninsula, across the Adelaide Hills and touches on some
of Adelaide's affluent eastern suburbs.
Federal Greens Leader Bob Brown said if the Liberals did lose Mayo, no one would be
more to blame than Mr Downer after he decided to quit the parliament, despite only
being returned as the local member less than a year ago.
"Voting Green is an attractive option in Mayo and the best way to focus national
attention on the Murray River," Senator Brown said.
The Greens have also raised concerns at a Liberal Party brochure distributed in Mayo
which is critical of Greens policies without giving full details.
Mr Briggs defended the brochure but Mr Vonow said it distorted the party's policies
and he questioned the Liberal tactics.
"Why not do it in a positive way?
"Why not use all their efforts to promote an alternative vision?" he said.
"I've had many calls this week from people saying that they're disgusted that the
Liberal Party is using such tactics."
The big issue is Mayo has been the fate of the Murray, so much so that the poll has
prompted independent Di Bell to campaign almost entirely on securing the future of
the river system and the lower lakes.
Ms Bell has also won the endorsement of influential independent Senator Nick
Xenophon who called on voters to use her election to send a message to both the
state and federal governments.
The Australian Electoral Commission said it did not expect to be in a position to
call a result in May on election night.
However, it said an indication of a likely outcome was possible.
