Labor cleans up in all seats but one in Super Saturday blow to Coalition
LABOR has won all four seats it was forced to recontest in Super Saturday by-elections including two ultra-marginal seats in Tasmanian and Queensland.
NSW
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LABOR has won all four seats it was forced to recontest in Super Saturday by-elections including two ultra-marginal seats in Tasmanian and Queensland.
The win locks in Bill Shorten as opposition leader to take on Malcolm Turnbull at the next general election due in early 2019.
Almost half a million Australians were forced to cast a vote in five by-elections held across four states which were triggered by a series of resignations, mainly over dual citizenship.
In the seat of Longman, north of Brisbane, Labor’s Susan Lamb claimed victory shortly after 9pm standing alongside a jubilant Bill Shorten.
Longman was one of two crucial electoral tests for Mr Shorten’s leadership given no opposition has lost a seat to the Government at a by-election in 98 years.
With counting continuing in the Western Australia seats of Fremantle and Perth, Mr Shorten declared Labor had retained all four seats.
“Tonight is another sign post into the destination that matters for Australians — a Labor government after the next general election,” he said.
In Tasmania, Labor’s Justine Keay will return to Canberra as the member for Braddon off the back of strong preference flows from larrikin independent Craig Garland.
Ms Keay told supporters healthcare was the most important issue to voters in northwest Tasmania.
“We have fought this campaign on the issues that matter to the people of Braddon,” she said.
In South Australia, Centre Alliance candidate Rebekha Sharkie has won back the seat of Mayo with an increased margin, despite a challenge from dynasty candidate Georgina Downer.
Ms Sharkie, who booked a night at a caravan park and walked to her election night party, said her re-election was proof that independents could take on the major parties.
“We have shown that you don’t need huge wads of money, you don’t need a huge political machine — what you need are people who are passionate, people who care and that is every single one of us,” she said.
Defeated candidate Georgina Downer said Ms Sharkie had put up an “extremely good fight” to retain the seat.
“This was a by-election that was about the people of Mayo and I absolutely respect the decision they made today,” she said.
Ms Downer, the daughter of former foreign minister Alexander Downer and granddaughter of Menzies government cabinet minister Sir Alick Downer, said she wanted to recontest Mayo at the next federal poll.
Mr Downer said he was convinced his daughter would not only secure party preselection again, but she would win the seat of Mayo at next year’s federal election.
“She won’t just be a water carrier, she’ll be one of the great leaders of this country in the years to come,” he said.
The West Australian seats of Perth and Fremantle will stay with Labor after a lacklustre campaign with the Liberal Party deciding not to contest two electorates.
Labor’s candidate for Fremantle, Josh Wilson, hoped to improve the 41 per cent primary vote he secured in 2016.
In Perth, former Kevin Rudd staffer Patrick Gorman will be the newest member of the House of Representatives when Parliament resumes in a fortnight.
- with Jade Gailberger and Adam Langenberg