Rebekha Sharkie and Centre Alliance win Mayo by-election without Nick Xenophon
THE makers of American TV sitcom Roseanne have the same goal as the former Nick Xenophon Team: success without the original star.
THE makers of American TV sitcom Roseanne have the same goal as the former Nick Xenophon Team: success without the original star.
Rebekha Sharkie’s defeat of Liberal Georgina Downer at the Mayo by-election has shown that electoral survival might be possible for the NXT, now known as Centre Alliance.
Two months ago, victory in Mayo for Ms Sharkie seemed as likely as a rebranded Roseanne continuing successfully without dumped star Roseanne Barr (of course, Mr Xenophon has never engaged in Barr-style racist rants and stepped out of the political limelight voluntarily).
Ms Sharkie needed Mr Xenophon’s help to win Mayo for the first time in 2016 but her own hard work and enthusiasm in the Mayo community was responsible for her re-election.
A two-month campaign wasn’t long enough for Ms Downer to convince enough electors to give her a go. But Ms Downer campaigned well and senior Liberals are keen to give her another chance to contest the seat once represented by her father.
Despite Ms Sharkie’s success, it is unclear how the Centre Alliance will fare in the longer term.
The party will need a high-profile candidate if it is to win an extra Senate seat at the federal election next year.
Labor’s success in the four other Super Saturday by-elections has cemented Bill Shorten’s hold on the Labor leadership and ensured an early federal election won’t be held this year. The Liberal vote fell below 30 per cent in the Queensland seat of Longman. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has sensibly promised to “humbly” consider the message from voters.