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Gay footballer Jason Ball to challenge safe Liberal seat of Higgins Gay footballer Jason Ball to challenge safe Liberal seat of Higgins
(1 day later)
Jason Ball, the first openly gay Australian rules player, has announced he will stand against Liberal frontbencher Kelly O’Dwyer in the federal seat of Higgins.Jason Ball, the first openly gay Australian rules player, has announced he will stand against Liberal frontbencher Kelly O’Dwyer in the federal seat of Higgins.
The Yarra Glen footballer will run against O’Dwyer as the Greens candidate in the Melbourne seat, previously held by former Howard government treasurer Peter Costello.The Yarra Glen footballer will run against O’Dwyer as the Greens candidate in the Melbourne seat, previously held by former Howard government treasurer Peter Costello.
The Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, has warned Ball will give the safe Liberal seat a “good shake” at the next federal election.The Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, has warned Ball will give the safe Liberal seat a “good shake” at the next federal election.
“If we don’t get over the line this time around, beware the next election,” Di Natale told ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday.“If we don’t get over the line this time around, beware the next election,” Di Natale told ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday.
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The announcement comes days after Labor selected gay rights advocate Carl Katter, the gay half-brother of independent MP Bob Katter, as its candidate for Higgins at the next election.The announcement comes days after Labor selected gay rights advocate Carl Katter, the gay half-brother of independent MP Bob Katter, as its candidate for Higgins at the next election.
O’Dwyer told reporters in Melbourne she would not be distracted by those running against her.O’Dwyer told reporters in Melbourne she would not be distracted by those running against her.
“I am there to do my job to the very best of my ability,” she said. “I get out and about in my community and I think I represent their concerns to the nation’s parliament.”“I am there to do my job to the very best of my ability,” she said. “I get out and about in my community and I think I represent their concerns to the nation’s parliament.”
Both candidates will face a tough fight against O’Dwyer, who holds the seat with a 10% margin and supports gay marriage.Both candidates will face a tough fight against O’Dwyer, who holds the seat with a 10% margin and supports gay marriage.