Labor candidate admits part ‘can’t be bothered to go all out in a seat it can’t win’

WENTWORTH voters have been told this Saturday’s by-election battle for the eastern suburbs seat is simply a “sideshow” in a stunning admission from the Labor candidate that the party can’t be bothered to go all out in a seat it can’t win.

WENTWORTH voters have been told this Saturday’s by-election battle for the eastern suburbs seat is simply a “sideshow” in a stunning admission from the Labor candidate that the party can’t be bothered to go all out in a seat it can’t win.

Asked about Bill Shorten’s no-show on the campaign trail, Labor candidate Tim Murray defended the move, saying that the Opposition Leader’s time was better spent in marginal electorates.

“The Labor Party is very disciplined. They wish to win the main prize, which is the general election,” he said.

“You may have noticed that Bill Shorten has spent a lot of time throughout this campaign in marginal electorates around Australia looking after what we need to do for the general election. This is a side-show, to be honest.”

Tim Murray, candidate for former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s federal seat of Wentworth debates the issues ahead of the crucial by-election this Saturday.

Mr Murray told The Daily Telegraph he was “fighting for every vote and I want people to put Labor first”.

“Everyone knows that the Liberals hold this seat by a massive margin so it’s a huge task for any challenger but I am a true local,” he said.

One insider said, “it’s their seat, a safe Liberal seat. You don’t get more blue ribbon than this”.

Mr Murray’s “sideshow” comment was jeered by the 80-strong audience at the candidates’ debate held at the Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club yesterday.

Residents Calling for Climate Action group battle other Wentworth residents dressed as Scott Morrison and Tony Abbott.

To which Mr Murray, an economist, replied: “What I’m saying is, this is a by-election, a by-election we didn’t have to have, that was forced on us by the Liberal Party.

“The main thing is that we change our government and get a climate policy in there.

“We’ll get that climate policy from the Labor Party and not the Liberal Party. And this by- election will not enable the Labor Party to do that, the general election will and that’s what Bill is focused on.”

The candidate debate also heard from Liberal candidate Dave Sharma, who said he was appalled by the way former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull was treated.

Dave Sharma arrives to the forum to debate issues in former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s federal seat of Wentworth.

He described Mr Turnbull as a “mentor and a friend”.

“I too was appalled at the treatment that was meted out to him,” Mr Sharma said. “I wouldn’t discount that there is anger and frustration out there and — as I said, I understand that and I sympathise with that — ultimately though, it will be for the voters to decide whether they’re ready to forgive or not.”

Despite holding Wentworth with a 17 per cent margin, the Liberals are concerned Dr Phelps will win the seat.

Dave Sharma, the Liberal candidate for Wentworth.

Kerryn Phelps is running as an independent.

Mr Sharma told The Daily Telegraph he was “not taking anything for granted” in the last crucial week of the campaign, with voters now focusing on the issues.

“It’s going to be a close by-election no doubt,” he said.

“I’m not taking anything for granted.

“People are back from school holidays, people are beginning to focus on it. The key here is it’s not a normal by-election, it’s got national repercussions and national significance. I think voters here understand that a vote for the Labor or independents here would mean be a hung parliament.”

He said the balance of power would be held by independents in that scenario, which would be “harder to get things done”.

“We’ve seen this before in the Australian parliament, it doesn’t work well.”