Results from the Eden-Monaro by-election, triggered by the resignation of long-serving Labor MP Mike Kelly, will be finalised tonight as voters flock to the polls.
The by-election — the first federal ballot since the COVID-19 pandemic — is also Labor leader Anthony Albanese’s first test as senior Coalition figures believe the government is closing the gap on the ALP.
Mr Kelly resigned in April due to health reasons. He was first elected in 2007, and held the seat for 10 of the past 13 years.
It is set to be a tight contest, but Labor candidate Kristy McBain is expected to maintain the ALP’s reign over the large NSW-Victorian border seat, according to Coalition figures who spoke to The Australian.
SENDING A ‘CHAMPION’ TO CANBERRA
Today’s by-election is an opportunity to send a critical message of support to rural communities, which felt “left behind” during the bushfires and the pandemic, Anthony Albanese told the Today show this morning.
He said Ms McBain was the “best candidate” for representing the seat, which was ravaged by the summer bushfires.
“She has been incredibly well-received wherever she has gone throughout the electorate, whether it is Yass, Batlow or Snowy or here on the Coast around Merimbula, Bega, Tathra,” Mr Albanese said.
“These communities that are still doing it really tough. We visited a home yesterday or a former home just outside of Cobago where people have lost absolutely everything.
“The fact that people are still waiting for debris to be removed from their land six months later really is not good enough.”
CLOSER THAN LAST YEAR
Liberal candidate Fiona Kotvojs said she expected the by-election result to be tighter than last year’s federal election, when she lost to popular former Labor MP Mike Kelly by 1685 votes.
“I hope I’m able to increase the vote (from last year) but it is going to be really close. Every vote is going to count and it might come down to just one or two votes, I don’t know,” she told The Australian.
The small-business woman and cattle farmer also spent eight years in the Army Reserve and more than a decade volunteering as a Lifeline counsellor.
“It took about 10 days before we got a result last time. This time I’m expecting it’ll be that long, if not longer,” she said.
WHO ARE THE OTHER CANDIDATES?
Fourteen people are running for the seat, with the Greens, Nationals and Shooters, Fishers and Farmers fielding candidates alongside Labor and Liberal.
The other candidates are:
- Joy Angel, Sustainable Australia
- Michael Balderstone, HEMP Party
- Riccardo Bosi, independent
- Cathy Griff, Greens
- Trevor Hicks, Nationals
- James Holgate, independent
- James Jansson, Science Party
- Dean McCrae, Liberal Democrats
- Karen Porter, independent
- Jason Potter, Australian Federation Party
- Matthew Stadtmiller, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers
- Narelle Storey, Christian Democrats.
FIRES DOMINATE ISSUES
Climate change will be one of the main issues in the Eden-Monaro seat after the government’s response to the summer’s bushfires.
It was one of the hardest-hit regions in the country, with many communities on the south coast still rebuilding.
Cobargo, made famous after Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s unfriendly welcome during the fires, sits within the seat.
Voters will also be keen to vote for candidates with a firm stance on creating jobs for the region and strengthening the healthcare system after the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Results in the poll will start to flow in from 6pm AEST.
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2020-07-04 02:11:30Z
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