Could Tony Abbott’s seat of Warringah be next after Liberals lose Wentworth by-election?
A MAJOR swing against the Coalition Government in the Wentworth by-election is adding more fuel to calls for a strong, prominent independent to run against Tony Abbott in Warringah — and now the former Prime Minister has responded.
Manly
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A MAJOR swing against the Coalition Government in the Wentworth by-election is adding more fuel to calls for a strong, prominent independent to run against Tony Abbott in Warringah.
Previously speculation has been that popular independent Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan could be a candidate, but he has so far denied having any plans to make a run for federal politics.
But television personality, Jane Caro — a commentator writer and lecturer — has hinted at the possibility of throwing her hat in the ring.
In response to calls on Twitter for her to stand, Ms Caro said she was not in the electorate, but grew up in the area and believed the Coalition’s environmental policy could lead her to run.
“I may not win,” she wrote in response to calls for her to stand.
“Not the point. I feel duty bound to do what I can to stop the climate deniers and the far right destroy my grandchildren’s future.
I may not win. Not the point. I feel duty bound to do what I can to stop the climate deniers & the far right destroy my grandchildren’s future. If I could help I ought to at least try.
— Jane Caro (@JaneCaro) October 20, 2018
“If I could help I ought to at least try.”
Mr Abbott said he had no comment on the Wentworth by-election other than to offer his “commiserations to Liberal candidate Dave Sharma, who was an outstanding candidate”.
“As far as Warringah goes I have never taken the seat of Warringah lightly,” he told the Manly Daily.
“I will continue to work as hard as I can for the people of Warringah and obviously if you want things like the northern beaches tunnel built you have got to have a candidate and member who wants these things built, and I do.”
He would not be drawn on potential opponents.
“I will do my thing, regardless of who else runs and in a democracy people are entitled to run, but my job is to be the best possible member for Warringah.”
In a separate tweet, responding to the Wentworth backlash against the Liberal Party, television host Charlie Pickering said: “If I were a high-profile independent living in Warringah and considering a career in politics, I’d be booking some headshots right about now.”
Former Australian Idol host James Mathison responded to that stream, with a picture of his headshot.
Mr Mathison ran against Mr Abbott in the 2016 Federal Election.
If I were a high-profile independent living in Warringah and considering a career in politics, I’d be booking some headshots right about now. #WentworthVotes
— Charlie Pickering (@charliepick) October 20, 2018
He was a thorn in the side of Mr Abbott at the last Federal election in 2016.
The Liberal primary vote at that election dropped by 9.19 points to 51.65 per cent. Mr Mathison attracted the large majority of that vote. If a similar chunk was to be taken from Mr Abbott’s support base at this election, his seat could be at risk.
It is not clear if Mr Mathison will stand for another tilt at Warringah, but sources close to him say he is “considering his options”.
The Liberal Party held a safe margin of almost 18 per cent in Wentworth, and appear to be losing the seat to independent Dr Kerryn Phelps due to a 19 per cent swing against the incumbents.
According to the ABC Mr Abbott holds a Warringah by a 15 per cent advantage.
Last month Mr Abbott was endorsed as the party’s candidate for the next election.
But at least 30 of the 100 members of his Federal Electoral Conference in attendance voted not to endorse him - two votes were informal.
At that time one Liberal source described it as a “warning shot” saying Mr Abbott needed to change his tune on environmental issues and stop politicking if he wanted to be re-endorsed after 2019.
It has been followed by a rejuvenated push by Anti-Abbott group, People of Warringah to remove the former prime minister from the seat.