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Don Randall's Canning byelection could prove a test of Abbott's popularity Don Randall's Canning byelection could prove a test of Abbott's popularity
(about 20 hours later)
A byelection for the West Australian seat of Canning, vacated by the death of popular long-term local member Don Randall, will be a leadership test for Tony Abbott, political commentator Harry Phillips has said.A byelection for the West Australian seat of Canning, vacated by the death of popular long-term local member Don Randall, will be a leadership test for Tony Abbott, political commentator Harry Phillips has said.
“It will be a byelection that’s given a lot of focus because on two-party preferred terms, despite Bill Shorten’s own unpopularity and disapproval ratings, Labor is ahead,” Phillips said.“It will be a byelection that’s given a lot of focus because on two-party preferred terms, despite Bill Shorten’s own unpopularity and disapproval ratings, Labor is ahead,” Phillips said.
“If Labor can push close, I think it would give the government a fright.”“If Labor can push close, I think it would give the government a fright.”
Randall, 62, died suddenly on Tuesday while in Boddington on electorate business. He is believed to have had a heart attack.Randall, 62, died suddenly on Tuesday while in Boddington on electorate business. He is believed to have had a heart attack.
On Wednesday his office paid tribute to the “fair dinkum” backbencher, saying: “He was our boss, our mentor, our friend, and someone we all admired greatly”.On Wednesday his office paid tribute to the “fair dinkum” backbencher, saying: “He was our boss, our mentor, our friend, and someone we all admired greatly”.
“He worked hard for the people of Canning and always put their needs first – even if it meant ruffling a few feathers,” it said.“He worked hard for the people of Canning and always put their needs first – even if it meant ruffling a few feathers,” it said.
His death is likely to trigger a by-election, unless Abbott changes his stance on not going to an early election. There’s no set time period for a by-election but the speaker is generally expected to issue the writs as soon as possible, meaning it could be held as early as September.His death is likely to trigger a by-election, unless Abbott changes his stance on not going to an early election. There’s no set time period for a by-election but the speaker is generally expected to issue the writs as soon as possible, meaning it could be held as early as September.
Phillips, an honorary professor at Edith Cowan University, told Guardian Australia that losing the marginal seat, which Randall held since 2001, would reflect poorly on Abbott’s leadership and could trigger another spill.Phillips, an honorary professor at Edith Cowan University, told Guardian Australia that losing the marginal seat, which Randall held since 2001, would reflect poorly on Abbott’s leadership and could trigger another spill.
Randall was one of two West Australian MP’s who moved a spill motion against Abbott in February.Randall was one of two West Australian MP’s who moved a spill motion against Abbott in February.
Phillips said Randall’s personal popularity, which crossed party lines, could be said to account for about 5% of the vote, and the unpopularity of Abbott could knock off a few more points.Phillips said Randall’s personal popularity, which crossed party lines, could be said to account for about 5% of the vote, and the unpopularity of Abbott could knock off a few more points.
“You would have to believe that if Labor could put forward a well-known candidate they would have to have a decent chance,” he said.“You would have to believe that if Labor could put forward a well-known candidate they would have to have a decent chance,” he said.
Phillips said Canning had shown a “propensity” to favour parochialism over political colours, and was not a seat to be won by party hacks.Phillips said Canning had shown a “propensity” to favour parochialism over political colours, and was not a seat to be won by party hacks.
“In the last few years the ‘West Australianism’ has become a little bit more important than the name of the party,” Phillips said.“In the last few years the ‘West Australianism’ has become a little bit more important than the name of the party,” Phillips said.
“Western Australia feels more alienated from the federation than ever, particularly because of issues like the disparity in GST distribution. It would take a local figure to win it.”“Western Australia feels more alienated from the federation than ever, particularly because of issues like the disparity in GST distribution. It would take a local figure to win it.”
He said likely candidates should take their cues from Randall, whose performance as a local member was legendary and seemingly unaffected by his mixed legacy on the national stage, which was coloured by expenses scandals and his rejection of the apology to the stolen generation.He said likely candidates should take their cues from Randall, whose performance as a local member was legendary and seemingly unaffected by his mixed legacy on the national stage, which was coloured by expenses scandals and his rejection of the apology to the stolen generation.
Liberal senator for WA David Johnston, who was a close friend of Randall, told ABC 720 in Perth on Wednesday that Randall was tenacious on behalf of his constituents.Liberal senator for WA David Johnston, who was a close friend of Randall, told ABC 720 in Perth on Wednesday that Randall was tenacious on behalf of his constituents.
“Many people will wake up this morning in his electorate thinking, ‘the comfort and security I had with Don Randall as my local member has gone’,” Johnston said.“Many people will wake up this morning in his electorate thinking, ‘the comfort and security I had with Don Randall as my local member has gone’,” Johnston said.
“He took great satisfaction from achieving things for the little guy.“He took great satisfaction from achieving things for the little guy.
“When their sewerage was broken and no one would turn up and fix it, when their phone wouldn’t work, Don would muscle up.”“When their sewerage was broken and no one would turn up and fix it, when their phone wouldn’t work, Don would muscle up.”
Randall’s skill as a campaigner was also widely acknowledged – Johnston said he took to door-knocking “like a duck to water” and would happily get his hands dirty, on one occasion helping bury a pet rabbit when he knocked on a door to find a distraught family and no one available to dig the grave.Randall’s skill as a campaigner was also widely acknowledged – Johnston said he took to door-knocking “like a duck to water” and would happily get his hands dirty, on one occasion helping bury a pet rabbit when he knocked on a door to find a distraught family and no one available to dig the grave.
“I know that he was looking forward to winning the next election, he had no doubt that he would win his seat,” Johnston said.“I know that he was looking forward to winning the next election, he had no doubt that he would win his seat,” Johnston said.
The premier of WA, Colin Barnett, said Randall’s achievement in holding Canning was significant.The premier of WA, Colin Barnett, said Randall’s achievement in holding Canning was significant.
“I think it’s fair to say Don had a fairly colourful political career, but what I think needs to be recognised is his seat of Canning, which he held for the past 15 years, was a marginal swinging seat, and through hard work he has held it for 15 years,” Barnett said in Perth on Wednesday.“I think it’s fair to say Don had a fairly colourful political career, but what I think needs to be recognised is his seat of Canning, which he held for the past 15 years, was a marginal swinging seat, and through hard work he has held it for 15 years,” Barnett said in Perth on Wednesday.
The semi-rural seat, which takes in Perth’s fast-growing south-eastern corner and the city of Mandurah, as well as a swath of farmland, was held by Labor for all but one term in the 20 years before Randall was elected in 2001.The semi-rural seat, which takes in Perth’s fast-growing south-eastern corner and the city of Mandurah, as well as a swath of farmland, was held by Labor for all but one term in the 20 years before Randall was elected in 2001.
He won 51% of the primary vote in 2013, securing an 11% margin against the largely unknown Labor candidate, Joanne Dean.He won 51% of the primary vote in 2013, securing an 11% margin against the largely unknown Labor candidate, Joanne Dean.
Alannah MacTiernan, the Labor member for Perth, who herself went up against Randall in Canning in 2010 and lost, said that margin was helped by Labor putting very few resources into Dean’s campaign.Alannah MacTiernan, the Labor member for Perth, who herself went up against Randall in Canning in 2010 and lost, said that margin was helped by Labor putting very few resources into Dean’s campaign.
She told Guardian Australia Labor could win the seat back, if it picked the right candidate. No names were put forward. “I wouldn’t say that we couldn’t win, I would say that it would be a big challenge,” she said.She told Guardian Australia Labor could win the seat back, if it picked the right candidate. No names were put forward. “I wouldn’t say that we couldn’t win, I would say that it would be a big challenge,” she said.
The West Australian branch of the Liberal Party was contacted for comment. Ben Morton, state director of the WA branch of the Liberal party, said the party was currently focused on providing support to Randall’s wife, Julie, and two children.