Bradfield MP Paul Fletcher will retain seat but lose margin

Liberals stalwart Paul Fletcher, who is contesting his sixth election, will see his enviable margin in Bradfield evaporate according to the latest polling.

The latest poll shows Paul Fletcher will retain the seat of Bradfield but lose the hefty margin which once saw it labelled among the safest in the nation.

The YouGov poll, commissioned by the Australian, shows Fletcher’s margin is set to topple from an enviable 16.56 per cent to just eight.

The LNP stalwart is predicted to still finish up ahead of Labor’s David Brigden on a comfortable two party preferred basis of 58 to 42.

Member for Bradfield Paul Fletcher in his Lidfield electoral office. Picture: John Appleyard

The seat is also being contested by teal independent Nicolette Boele and while punters have seen an incredibly shortening of her odds from $51 to just $8 she is still considered unlikely to pose a threat.

DEMOCRACY SAUSAGES COME EARLY TO BRADFIELD

Independent candidate and electric vehicle champion Nicolette Boele turned up the heat in Bradfield by taking part in a barbecue with a difference.

Boele was among 200 residents who gathered at South Turramurra to watch on as a Hyundai Ionic 5, the first car in Australia to have a power-point as well as a charging port, powered two electric barbecues simultaneously and was also used to run a coffee and popcorn machines.

EV enthusiasts also flocked to the park to show off their cars with models including Tesla, Hyundai, Nissan, Mercedes, BMW, Renault and MG, as well as two electric Harley Davidson Livewire motorcycles.

Bradfield resident and Clean Energy Finance expert, Tim Buckley, said electrifying out lives was the way of the future.

“Bradfield is very representative of the massive, ongoing uptake of rooftop solar and battery storage, and the fast-building momentum in electric vehicles, with induction cookers and ground heat pumps set to follow as we ‘electrify everything’,” Buckley said.

Independent candidate for Bradfield Nicolette Boele with Brett Farmer and Tim Buckley.

“Not only is Australia a world leader in this, but this drives significant new investment which in turn provides a booming sector in highly valuable electrical trade jobs. There are far more jobs across Australia in these sustainable Cleantech sectors than there ever were in Australian coal mining, even back at their peak.”

Boele, who has built her career working in the climate action space, said the electorate is incredibly switched on when it comes to all things clean and green.

“I don’t think there’s another electorate in the country with the level of knowledge and expertise in clean energy systems, technology and finance,” Boele said.

“If elected I would draw on the expertise of people like Tim Buckley as well as Colin Liebmann, Director at Renewable Energy Developments who is setting up large scale renewable energy power generation utilities and Freddy Sharpe, Managing Director of carbon abatement and clean energy company, Climate Friendly.

“We need the next government to set in place the plans, legislation and infrastructure that will unleash the strong interest in the mining, financial and renewable energy sectors to invest in Australia, and I believe I’m the best candidate to help make that happen.

Paul Fletcher’sw margin is slimming. Picture: John Appleyard

FLETCHER: SUPER ACCESS SCHEME KEY TO HOME OWNERSHIP

Bradfield’s sitting Liberal MP Paul Fletcher has highlighted how the Super Home Buyer Scheme will prove game changing for young people in his electorate.

While in general house prices nationwide have started to cool, not so for certain areas of the leafy North Shore including Pymble where the latest Prop Track data shows prices have risen 17.7 per cent in the past three months.

“For too many young Australians today, getting together the required deposit to buy your first home seems out of reach,” Fletcher said.

“But our new Super Home Buy Scheme will help you get your foot in the door of home ownership sooner.”

Under this scheme, first home buyers will be able to invest a portion of their super savings to buy their first home – up to $50,000 or 40 per cent of your superannuation balance (whichever is less).

You must be a first homebuyer and have separately saved five per cent of the deposit.

There are no income or property caps, the scheme will apply to both new and existing homes and the invested amount – including a share of any capital gains – will be returned to your super when the home is sold.

“This scheme makes it easier for first home buyers to save for a deposit, reducing the time people need to pay rent while protecting their long-term retirement savings,” Fletcher said.

“It also means a smaller mortgage with lower repayments, reducing the cost of living for households.

“It is going to be your money, buying your house.

“What is the point of having superannuation money you may not touch for another 50 years if you can put it to work now to buy your first home?”

A re-elected Morrison Government will pass a law to deliver the scheme by July 1, 2023.

Originally published as Bradfield MP Paul Fletcher will retain seat but lose margin