Federal Election 2016: Former prime minister Tony Abbott takes on Warringah rivals in debate

DURING debate over his government’s policies with voters in Manly, former PM Tony Abbott had an awkward exchange with his doppelganger.

Tony Abbott addresses the audience from the stage at the Warringah and Mackellar election forum hosted by the Manly Daily.

WHEN former prime minister Tony Abbott rolled up to an election forum to debate his government’s policies, the last person he expected to see was himself.

The Warringah MP came face-to-face with Tony Abbott impersonator Jonas Holt during a fiery exchange between him and other candidates for his seat at the debate hosted by Manly Daily.

Featuring candidates from the seats of Warringah and Mackellar on the northern beaches, last night’s event centred on a youth revolution steered by minor parties looking to unseat the establishment.

Former Australian Idol host and independent candidate James Mathison pushed for a fair go for the next generation at the Manly Daily’s election forum on Thursday night, saying they had been “locked out of the system”.

Earlier in the two-hour forum attended by 300 people, Mr Mathison said he had largely preferenced minority parties on his ticket because “I feel like making Warringah marginal is the way to make Warringah matter”.

Tony Abbott (right) meets Tony Abbott impersonator Jonas Holt at the Manly Daily election forum at Dee Why RSL. Picture: Manly Daily

His plea for the younger generation was echoed by Warringah Greens candidate, Clara Williams Roldan, 24, — the youngest member of the six-person panel — said the Abbott’s term as Prime Minister showed he was out of touch with the youth.

She called Mr Abbott’s 22 years as member of Warringah a “race towards the bottom” which was “more concerned about staying in power than serving the voters of their electorate”.

The former prime minister was greeted by jeers and boos as he attempted to answer questions on climate change, marriage equality and the controversial safe schools program.

Meanwhile, Mr Mathison was met with applause when he questioned “what hope” the major party candidates for Warringah and Mackellar were giving to the youth of Australia ahead of the federal election at a forum hosted by the Manly Daily.

Audience members listen to candidates’ points of view at the forum.

“There is not lot of young people here tonight, that is because they have been locked out of the system, they are facing shrinking job market, enormous debt and are looking at university fees being deregulated with enormous costs ahead of them,” he said.

“They are looking at the possibility of being locked out of the housing market for good … the Coalition has shrugged its shoulders and said ‘get a good job that pays well’ and described the housing market as an asset.

“What hope do you see for young people coming through from our community and Australia to get into the housing market and get education without massive debt?”

Mr Abbott at times laughed while being jeered, and dismissed a question about TAFE closures from his Labor counterpart Andrew Woodward.

Mike Hall gives the Greens’ agenda an airing in his bid for the electorate of Mackellar.

“I heard that soon after election Mike Baird will announce the closure of Brookvale and Loftus TAFEs.” Mr Woodward said, calling for Mr Abbott to rule it out.

“It is just another Labor lie,” Mr Abbott responded. “What is your evidence?”

Mr Abbott scored points for his stance on negative gearing, fiscal responsibility and support for the business community.

“We have protected our borders, repealed taxes that were putting up your cost of living, negotiated and finalised free trade agreements that will hold our country in good stead for years and years,” he said.

Warringah candidate James Mathison is standing as an independent candidate. Picture: Braden Fastier

Mr Abbott kicked off the forum by telling would-be voters he was the best candidate to offer transport solutions on the northern beaches.

“Together with Mike Baird we can finally give this area the better transport infrastructure, it has sorely needed for a long, long time,” he said.

He argued that his track record in getting funding for the soon-to-open Northern Beaches Hospital was evidence enough that a solution to peninsula congestion was coming.

Mackellar Labor candidate Rhonda Funnell told the audience of her commitment to education.

“You didn’t think you would get the hospital, but it is coming, and I know you don’t think you will get the transport infrastructure but I promise you, you will,” he said.

Rhonda Funnell, the Labor candidate for Mackellar, argued that Labor would “give a Gonski”.

She set a platform of education as her primary focus in taking on the seat to be vacated by Bronwyn Bishop.

Jason Falinski, Liberal candidate for Mackellar, addresses the forum.

She called the Coalition’s backdown on education funding under the Gonski review “underhanded and deceitful”.

“I have children and grandchild, I will fight tooth and nail to stop the Turnbull Government cutting university support … Labor will guarantee funding for public TAFE to help older people re-skill,” she said.

Liberal, Labor and Greens candidates for the northern beaches seats of Warringah and Mackellar presented their cases at the Dee Why RSL.

Manly Daily editor Nick Calacouras said the forum was: “An opportunity for the voters to meet face to face with the major party candidates ahead of next weekend’s election.”