Warringah: GetUp open battle HQ near Tony Abbott’s office
GetUp has opened a shopfront office just short walk from Tony Abbott’s constituency office as the group ramps up its efforts to oust the former Prime Minister. It comes as two major demonstrations are planned for the coming days.
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GetUp has opened a battle headquarters just a short walk from Tony Abbott’s constituency office as the group ramps up its efforts to oust the former Prime Minister.
The Whistler St shop has been transformed into the campaign group’s nerve centre where volunteers meet to co-ordinate their efforts.
Residents are also encouraged to pick up anti-Abbott yard signs, posters and stickers from the headquarters.
Despite the resources committed to ousting him, Mr Abbott is the current bookmakers’ favourite to win in Warringah.
He has said his political record and pledge to build the Beaches Link tunnel will get him over the line.
GetUp’s Manly base was officially opened last week.
“It’s a space for Warringah volunteers to come together and co-ordinate their efforts to hold Tony Abbott to account for his 25 years of climate denial,” campaign director Miriam Lyons said.
“With so many volunteers having conversations with their neighbours about voting for climate action in Warringah, they needed a space to meet, pick up campaign materials, etc.”
She said local support for the office had been “amazing”.
“Last week a stranger walking by offered to make a sign to go above the office — one hour later he came back with a freshly-printed sign.
“And a cafe down the road dropped off a $50 gift voucher to help keep the volunteers energised.”
With just over two weeks to go until the election, groups are organising their final efforts to sway the Warringah vote.
On Friday hundreds of schoolchildren are expected to gather outside Mr Abbott’s constituency office in Sydney Rd as part of the National Climate Strike.
The action is part of a global movement which will see 500 separate events around the world, including 70 in Australia.
On Sunday at 11.30am the Vote Tony Out group is holding a rally in Manly with organisers predicting more than a thousand will attend.
“We are meeting at Gilbert Park and will march through Manly before ending up in The Steyne for a beer,” group founder Mark Kelly said.
“Things have been quite tense recently so this is about having a bit of fun. There will be homemade signs, chanting, singing and a few speeches at the end.”
Stop Adani Warringah, a group opposed to the Adani coal mine in Queensland, is holding a pub crawl on Sunday afternoon from 4pm as part is its campaign to urge the government to address climate change.
Mr Abbott has said he faces the fight of his political life with “well funded” groups such as GetUp looking to oust him.
However, Liberal members told The Australian today they were confident Mr Abbott could hold on to his seat.
As of Tuesday, bookmakers had Mr Abbott as favourite with Tab paying $1.35 compared to his main challenger, Independent Zali Steggall, who is paying $2.80.
“Despite everything I am confident that we will have a come-from-behind-win,” he previously told the Manly Daily.
He predicted GetUp had spent $2m in the campaign against him.
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