Bennelong by-election: John Alexander and Kristina Keneally evenly poised before Saturday
VOTERS in Saturday’s Bennelong by-election will have the eyes of the nation’s leaders and media on them as they deliver a result which could send shockwaves through the Federal Government.
Northern District Times
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern District Times. Followed categories will be added to My News.
VOTERS in Saturday’s Bennelong by-election will have the eyes of the nation’s leaders and media on them as they deliver a result which could send shockwaves through the Federal Government.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will continue campaigning in the area this week to influence a result that could lead to a Coalition minority government.
Former prime ministers Bob Hawke and John Howard have visited to back their party’s candidates, while voters have been bombarded by advertising messages, survey calls, phone messages, billboard vans and volunteers on the street.
The two candidates expected to fare best, Liberal John Alexander and Labor’s Kristina Keneally, are locked in what appears to be the closest of contests.
Bennelong voters are split 50-50 between the two parties, according to a Newspoll survey published today.
For Mr Alexander, the survey confirmed his earlier predictions.
“I think from the time it was announced Kristina had nominated, we all thought it would be very, very close,” he said.
“And that’s the way we’ve campaigned — as if we were in the fight of our lives and we’re doing our absolute best.
“It could come down to a few votes. It could be 50, 100, 1000 – a few thousand. No-one knows at all.”
South Australian Senator Cory Bernardi’s new Australian Conservatives party and candidate Joram Richa could attract voters from the Liberal base.
The two parties have a preference deal and Mr Alexander said he believed they were aligned.
“John Howard used to say we’re a broad church (at the Liberal Party),” Mr Alexander said. “Maybe some part of this church has separated a bit but we remain philosophically united.”
Labor appears to have made inroads into Mr Alexander’s margin of 7.8 per cent recorded at last year’s election.
Yet Ms Keneally was cautious about her chances.
“We’ve been warmly received in the electorate and I appreciate that, but the reality is this is still a big ask for Labor,” she said.
“It’s a big ask to take the seat from the Liberal Party. They are the incumbent and have all the advantages.
“I knew it would be a tough fight going in and it’s still the case. But this is worth fighting for.”
The Liberals today seized on Labor Senator Sam Dastyari’s resignation over his questionable links to Chinese contacts.
Yet Ms Keneally said voters who spoke to her were more concerned about schools and healthcare.
Neither Mr Alexander or Ms Keneally will vote on Saturday. Both live outside the electorate — Mr Alexander recently sold his Putney house to live at Bondi, while Ms Keneally lives with her family at Hunters Hill.
The impromptu contest has attracted new entrants, resulting in 12 candidates — five more than the number of candidates who contested the seat last year.
Mr Alexander was elected Bennelong MP in 2010.
In November he became one in a long line of MPs facing eligibility questions due to possible dual citizenship.
Concerns about his father’s UK heritage prompted Mr Alexander to resign and ensure he had only Australian citizenship.
Saturday’s polling places are open from 8am to 6pm.