Federal Election 2019: Greenway candidates reflect on campaign as voters flock to polls
Greenway candidates Michelle Rowland, Allan Green and Graham McFarland reflect on the federal election campaign as voters have their say at the polls.
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Voters in Greenway have flocked to the polls today in the 2019 Federal Election, having their say on Australia’s political future.
Labor incumbent Michelle Rowland is tipped to retain the seat and improve Labor’s margin, up to 6.3 per cent from 4.6 per cent in 2016.
Despite strong predictions in Labor’s favour, Ms Rowland said the battle for seat remained “tough”.
“We’ve had thousands of new residents move in since the last election and it is impossible to know how this seat is going to pan out tonight or if we’ll even know how it will pan out tonight,” Ms Rowland told the Advocate at the polls today.
“The only thing I will take in after six o’clock is knowing I’ve worked very hard over the last three years to be an accessible and responsive local member.”
Ms Rowland reserved her judgment on the national vote, predicting the result would come down to a narrow margin.
“Anyone from western Sydney who seeks to understand how rural Queensland voters or voters in the suburbs around Perth vote, would be disingenuous,” she said.
“We have had very strong candidates in the field in those areas and it will come down to a small number of seats.
“Labor members also need to hold onto their seats, including myself.”
Ms Rowland hit out at the priorities of some candidates in the electorate.
”It’s not good enough for candidates to be running on a national platform,” she said.
“They need to be able to state what they’re going to do for the local area.
“We’ve been able to demonstrate this as an election where you can change the nation.”
Squaring up against Ms Rowland for the seat is Liberal candidate Allan Green, who was hopeful the Liberal Party could get over the line.
“I’ve seen evidence of people starting to warm to Scott Morrison — I think he will get over the line, maybe with a narrow margin, but I think he will do very well,” Mr Green said.
Mr Green noted the economy as a key voter concern.
“People are concerned about the way the country is going in economic terms,” he said.
“A lot of people are concerned about their dropping housing values and the cost of living.”
He said he had been heartened by voter support in the electorate.
“There has been a lot of positive feedback from the voters and I’ve been encouraged,” Mr Green said.
“At this particular centre (Stanhope Gardens) I’ve had a lot of my old school students come through and a lot of people have given me their well wishes.”
Australian Better Families candidate Graham McFarland was hopeful for a strong vote in Greenway.
“It’s a Labor seat, always has been, but if I can get a double-digit result, it might send a message that something is wrong in Greenway,” Mr McFarland said.
“If my vote gets up, if I get over four per cent, fantastic. But if I get up to 10 per cent, it will definitely send a shockwave through the system.”
He noted the rise of disillusioned voters turning their backs on the major parties and hoped the trend would translate into votes for his party.
“A lot of people are just angry. They don’t have a lot of faith in the system,” he said.
“The cost of living has been the biggest thing.
“When they hear what we’re about and all the laws we want to change and put into place, people get really engaged, so we’re here to stay.”
Spotlight on Greenway
Greenway has been a safe seat for Labor since the electorate’s inception in 1984.
Labor incumbent Michelle Rowland has held the seat since 2010 and will be vying for her fourth term at this election.
The seat was held by Liberal Louise Markus from 2004 to 2010.
Greenway extends from Prospect in the south the Riverstone in the north and covers the suburbs of Blacktown, Glenwood, Girraween, Kellyville Ridge, Kings Langley, Kings Park, Lalor Park, Parklea, Prospect, Quakers Hill, Riverstone, Rouse Hill, Schofields, Seven Hills, Stanhope Gardens and Vineyard.
Candidates for Greenway (order on the ballot)
1. Graham McFarland — Australian Better Families
2. Damien Atkins — The Greens
3. Allan Green — Liberal
4. Michelle Rowland — Labor (incumbent)
5. Scott Feeney — United Australia Party
6. Osbourn Rajadurai — Christian Democratic Party
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