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Labor claims victory in Griffith despite minor swing against party Labor claims victory in Griffith despite minor swing against party
(about 1 hour later)
Labor is poised to retain Kevin Rudd’s former Brisbane seat of Griffith, suffering a minor swing against in a byelection that loomed as an early electoral test for the Abbott government. Labor
The Liberal National Party candidate Bill Glasson refused to concede defeat on Saturday night, but admitted it would be “difficult” to win based on the results so far. The Coalition played down the likely loss, saying it was rare for governments to gain swings in a byelection. is poised to retain Kevin Rudd’s former Brisbane seat of Griffith,
Labor’s candidate, the employment lawyer, Terri Butler, attracted 52.33% of the vote after preferences, with 65.3% of the vote counted. That represents a swing away from the ALP of 0.68%, meaning the LNP has fallen short of the 3% required for victory. suffering a minor swing against in a byelection that loomed as an early
Glasson, a former president of the Australian Medical Association, reduced Labor’s margin by 5.5% when he ran against Rudd last September, and went into Saturday’s byelection requiring a further 3% swing to win. The byelection was triggered by Rudd’s resignation from parliament in the wake of Labor’s national defeat last year. electoral test for the Abbott government.
The
Liberal National Party candidate Bill Glasson refused to concede defeat
on Saturday night, but admitted it would be “difficult” to win based on
the results so far. The Coalition played down the likely loss, saying
it was rare for governments to attract positive swings in byelections.
Labor’s
candidate, the employment lawyer, Terri Butler, attracted 52.33% of the
vote after preferences, with about two-thirds of the electoral roll
counted. That represents a swing away from the ALP of 0.68%, indicating
the LNP has fallen short of the 3% required for victory.
Glasson,
a former president of the Australian Medical Association, reduced
Labor’s margin by 5.5% when he ran against Rudd last September, and went
into Saturday’s byelection requiring a further 3% swing to win. The
byelection was triggered by Rudd’s resignation from parliament in the
wake of Labor’s national defeat last year.
The ABC’s election analyst, Antony Green, said Labor “definitely” would win the seat.The ABC’s election analyst, Antony Green, said Labor “definitely” would win the seat.
AddressingAddressing
jubilant supporters, Butler said the result was a strong message to the jubilant supporters, Butler said the result was a strong message to the
prime minister, Tony Abbott, and the Queensland premier, Campbell prime minister, Tony Abbott, and the Queensland premier, Campbell
Newman, that “you cannot cut your way to a better Australia”.Newman, that “you cannot cut your way to a better Australia”.
“We’ve“We’ve
told them our communities are sick of the LNP’s cuts,” Butler said. “We told them our communities are sick of the LNP’s cuts,” Butler said. “We
have said to Tony Abbott hands off Medicare … and we have demanded the have said to Tony Abbott hands off Medicare … and we have demanded the
funding our schools need.”funding our schools need.”
Butler said she was grateful for the honour of representing Griffith and would not let voters down.
ButlerButler
said she was grateful for the honour of representing Griffith and would paid tribute to Rudd, who was among the audience at the victory party,
not let voters down. Rudd was among the audience at the victory party. as a “fantastic local member”. She also thanked the federal opposition
Butler paid tribute to Rudd as a “fantastic local member” and thanked leader, Bill Shorten, for spending so much time on the campaign trail
the federal opposition leader, Bill Shorten, for spending so much time supporting her efforts.
on the campaign trail supporting her efforts. Butler praised Glasson for the “extremely cordial” exchanges they had when they crossed paths during the “hard fought” campaign.
Butler – who was characterised as a “Labor union lawyer” in LNP campaign Despite
material – said she was proud of her work with Maurice Blackburn. “I being characterised as another “Labor union lawyer” in LNP campaign
know there was a smear campaign against me but I’m proud of representing material, Butler said she was proud of her work with Maurice Blackburn.
working families. I’ll always be proud of representing working “I
families.” know there was a smear campaign against me but I’m proud of
representing working families. I’ll always be proud of representing
working families.”
GlassonGlasson
made a speech to LNP supporters in which he said it would be difficult made a speech to LNP supporters in which he said it would be difficult
to win the seat, but would not concede defeat on Saturday night. He saidto win the seat, but would not concede defeat on Saturday night. He said
he expected the numbers to narrow. he expected the numbers to narrow in coming days.
GlassonGlasson
said he had run for election because he wanted to improve people’s said he maintained a positive attitude and had had run for election
lives. He saw that the carbon tax was hurting families and businesses. because he wanted to improve people’s lives. He saw that the carbon tax
was hurting families and businesses.
“I“I
still say to Mr Shorten, please, please consider supporting the still say to Mr Shorten, please, please consider supporting the
abolition of the carbon tax,” Glasson said in his speech on Saturday abolition of the carbon tax,” Glasson said in his speech on Saturday
night.night.
Glasson
attracted 42.52% of primary votes, ahead of Butler (39.57%), but
preference flows are likely to ensure Labor retains the seat. According
to the Australian Electoral Commission’s results summary,
the Greens candidate Geoff Ebbs secured a primary vote of 10.48% while
Pirate Party Australia’s Melanie Thomas polled fourth in an 11-candidate
field on 1.63% - beating out the Katter’s Australian Party’s 1.02%.
TheThe
byelection was the first electoral test for the Abbott government since
the election last September. Glasson faced a tough battle: it has been
nearly 100 years since a government has seized a seat from an opposition
at a federal byelection. But it is also rare for a first-term
government to secure a favourable swing at a byelection.
The
federal director of the Liberal Party, Brian Loughnane, alluded to the federal director of the Liberal Party, Brian Loughnane, alluded to the
swing to the LNP by tweeting that the result was a “great effort by Billswing to the LNP by tweeting that the result was a “great effort by Bill
Glasson” and a “clear rejection of Labor and Bill Shorten’s scare Glasson” and a “clear rejection of Labor and Bill Shorten’s scare
campaign”.campaign”.
Glasson But
attracted 42.52% of primary votes, ahead of Butler (39.57%), but Shorten said Butler had won the seat despite facing an opponent who was
preference flows are likely to ensure Labor retains the seat. The Greens “well known in the electorate after successive campaigns in a high
candidate Geoff Ebbs secured a primary vote of 10.48% while Pirate profile seat”.
Party Australia’s Melanie Thomas polled fourth in an 11-candidate race “Kevin
on 1.63% - beating out the Katter’s Australian Party’s 1.02% (with about Rudd was a great local member for the people of this area, he made a
two-thirds of primary votes counted). tremendous contribution to the nation and I am confident that record
The byelection is the first electoral test for the Abbott government since the election last September. Glasson faced a tough battle: it has been nearly 100 years since a government has seized a seat from an opposition at a federal byelection. But it is also rare for a first-term government to secure a favourable swing at a byelection. will continue with Terri Butler, as the new Member for Griffith,”
Shorten said in a statement issued on Saturday night.
Butler,Butler,
an employment lawyer, focused on linking Glasson to budget cuts pursued an employment lawyer, focused on linking Glasson to budget cuts pursued
by the prime minister, Tony Abbott, and the Queensland premier, by Abbott and Newman. On Saturday she said voters should use the
Campbell Newman. On Saturday she said voters should use the byelection byelection to “send a message to Mr Abbott about the government we
to “send a message to Mr Abbott about the government we deserve”. deserve”.
Butler’s
campaign also sought to raise fears about the potential introduction of
a $6 fee for bulk-billed visits to GPs, despite Abbott’s insistence
that nothing was planned or being considered. The prime minister refused
to categorically rule it out.
Glasson,Glasson,
whose campaign stressed his ability to be a strong and influential whose campaign stressed his medical background and ability to be a
local member, spoke to reporters before polls closed on Saturday. “I strong and influential local member, spoke to reporters before polls
feel a bit like Black Caviar, an outside draw, a heavy track, but like closed on Saturday. “I feel a bit like Black Caviar, an outside draw, a
Black Caviar I feel I’ve got a big heart, a big heart for the people of heavy track, but like Black Caviar I feel I’ve got a big heart, a big
Griffith,” he said. heart for the people of Griffith,” he said.
More to come... Abbott
visited the electorate to support Glasson twice during the official
campaign period, including a business tour two days before polling day
when the prime minister encouraged voters to support the LNP at the
byelection to ensure the removal of the carbon tax.