Massive swing against Liberal Party tipped to cost seat of Wagga Wagga
PREMIER Gladys Berejiklian last night laid the blame for the Liberal state by-election bloodbath in Wagga Wagga firmly at the federal doorstep as the party looked set to lose the seat for the first time in more than 60 years.
NSW
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PREMIER Gladys Berejiklian last night laid the blame for the Liberal state by-election bloodbath in Wagga Wagga firmly at the federal doorstep as the party looked set to lose the seat for the first time in more than 60 years.
With Liberal candidate Julia Ham virtually conceding defeat following swings of up to 36 per cent in some booths, Ms Berejiklian pointed the finger at political infighting in Canberra for loyalists abandoning the party in droves.
Last night independent Dr Joe McGirr looked set to take the seat, however Labor was still hoping for an upset on the back of preferences from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party.
In a nightmare result for a government facing a state election in six months, the vote was an indication of the ground the party has to make up after sitting MP Daryl Maguire was forced to quit amid corruption allegations.
But in a scathing attack on her federal counterparts, Ms Berejiklian last night attributed the result to the leadership spill that toppled prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.
“The infighting in Canberra was a huge concern and, when combined with the actions of a former member, it created an atmosphere where people’s cynicism with politics was off the charts,” she said.
“That clearly damaged the government’s vote and drove a vote for the independents.”
Even with pre-poll votes, which usually favour the incumbent party, yet to be finalised, Liberal Party state director Chris Stone was last night pessimistic.
“On current projections it would be very difficult for us to get there,” he said.
The result came despite the government pouring more than $120 million into the seat for hospital redevelopments, sporting and park upgrades, and roadworks, together with daily high-profile ministerial visits. One highly placed source said the seat was lost the day of the federal leadership spill.
“The mood shifted after Daryl, but the seat went the day after the spill,” the source said. “There was not a single local issue at play here — this was a vote against a government for the political infighting that had occurred in Canberra.
“Voters lost faith in us being able to govern.”
Nationals voters also punished the Liberals, with some expressing their disappointment at NSW Nationals Leader John Barilaro deciding not to contest the seat. The result has been so devastating the Nationals are expected to put up a candidate for the March state election.
Dr McGirr said he was “quietly optimistic” of winning the seat but was not expecting a result last night, conceding the race was so tight there “may need to be a recount” against Labor.
Earlier, in a show of good faith — and apparent last-minute bid to win over Nationals voters — Mr McCormack handed out how-to-vote cards for Liberal candidate Julia Ham at Ashmont Public School just hours before polls closed.
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Asked whether his first preference would have been helping a Nationals candidate, Mr McCormack said: “I’m not handing out for a Nat — I’m handing out for Julia Ham, I’m handing out for the Liberal Party”.
“The Nats aren’t running and I can understand why the Nats aren’t running — the Liberal party have held this seat in state parliament since 1957 and so Julia Ham is most entitled to run and as the Nationals Party leader federally I’m backing her all the way,” he said.
“I handed out for the Liberal Party when John Alexander ran in a by-election in Bennelong and if there’s only a Liberal candidate I’ll always hand out for the Liberal Party,” he added.
While the Liberal Party and Premier Gladys Berejiklian are bracing for the 12.9 per cent swing required to lose the seat, Mr McCormack was optimistic about the polling.
“We’re not intending to lose the seat, we’re intending to win the seat,” he said.
“At the moment I’m getting a good vibe from the voters here on the ground. I’ve been at a few booths and heard what the voters are saying and it’s all positive.”
He also rejected rumours about Nationals candidates handing out voting material for independents, saying: “I haven’t seen any of my colleagues handing out for independents.”
The by-election has caused divisions between the Nationals and Liberals after Ms Berejiklian said there would be no three-cornered contest in the seat.