Poll touts Layne Beachley to stand against Tony Abbott in seat of Warringah
A phone poll being conducted in the seat of Warringah ahead of next year’s federal election is promoting seven-time world champion Layne Beachley as a possible candidate to take on Tony Abbott. Would you vote for her?
A phone poll being conducted in the seat of Warringah ahead of next year’s federal election is touting seven-time world surfing champion Layne Beachley as a candidate.
The poll, which has called hundreds of northern beaches residents, asks if they would vote for Layne Beachley or media personality Jane Caro, if each stood as independents.
Yesterday, Ms Beachley told the Manly Daily she had not thrown her hat into the ring, had not been approached to run for Warringah and was not sure who was conducting the poll.
It is believed the polls are being conducted in a bid to encourage Ms Beachley to run. But she said it was not the first time she had been thrown up as a candidate.
“It is nice to have the vote of confidence of the local constituents but not something I am terribly interested in,” she said.
“Not yet, I have no intention of spending 120 days in Canberra, there aren’t many waves in Canberra.
“That is one of the deterrents, you have to go into it for the right reason. Just for the sake of getting someone out is not the right reason to get into politics.
“If I do put myself forward, I am a wholehearted person and would commit everything to it. And I am not at a stage where I want to do that.”
Mr Abbott said if Ms Beachley wanted to run for parliament that was her choice.
“Layne is a great surfer, a lovely person and, in our wonderful democracy, people are free to run for parliament,” he said.
Last month, Ms Beachley posted a picture on the Vote Tony Out Instagram page of her wearing a shirt emblazoned with the slogan “Time’s up Tony”.
The post said: “Our community, our environment and our nation deserves better.
“It’s time to let go of the past, embrace the tides of change and focus on delivering a positive future.”
The post, attributed to Ms Beachley, pointed to concerns around climate change, which she suggested Mr Abbott had a disregard for “despite undeniable scientific evidence”.
“We want a leader who is willing to represent the majority of views and ideals instead of projecting their own strongly held beliefs,” she wrote. “A leader that listens to the community, serves the community and connects with the community.
“It’s time to go Tony. We have had enough.”
The poll follows a mobilisation of anti-Abbott groups including Voices Of Warringah, People Of Warringah, Think Twice and Get Up!, along with the Vote Tony Out.
On Thursday night, the group Voices Of Warringah held a forum with media personality Jane Caro, who has previously hinted at making a run against Mr Abbott.
At the meeting, Ms Caro stopped short of nominating for the election and stressed that a flood of contenders would “split the vote” against Mr Abbott.
Voices Of Warringah is a new group modelled on the Voices For Indi campaign that unseated Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella in 2013.
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