Election 2022: ‘It’s on’ as battle for Kooyong ramps up

With the federal election two weeks away, the battle for the high profile seat of Kooyong has ramped up on the first day of pre-polling.

Treasurer John Frydenberg with former Victorian premier Ted Baillieu at the pre-polling station in Hawthorn on Monday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicki Connolly

Teal independent Monique Ryan has declared “it’s on” as she and Josh Frydenberg go head-to-head in their battle for the high-profile and formerly blue ribbon seat of Kooyong in Melbourne.

Both candidates hit the hustings on the first day of pre-polling on Monday, handing out how-to-vote cards, shaking hands and posing for selfies with Victorians on a leafy street in Hawthorn in Melbourne’s east as the final two weeks of the federal election campaign ramp up.

Among the huge turnout of volunteers for the Liberal Party, the Greens and Dr Ryan’s campaign, were former Victorian premier Ted Baillieu for the Treasurer, and Mr Baillieu’s son Rob campaigning for Dr Ryan.

Playing down their public dispute, the former premier simply said “we disagree” when asked what it was like to be campaigning against his son.

Rob Baillieu attended the pre-poll station in the morning, volunteers said. He did not respond to a request for comment, except to say he voted on Monday and “it’s been a long journey but it’s time for change”.

The former premier’s son published an opinion piece in The Age on April 21 with the headline: “My father was Liberal premier, but I can’t support his party”.

That was one day after Ted Baillieu’s op-ed appeared in the same paper, in which he said independents backed with Climate 200 funding were on “bizarre” missions to “replace some of Australia’s most capable, most energetic and most experienced MPs”.

Hesitant to discuss his son, Mr Baillieu was happy to talk up his support for Mr Frydenberg, saying: “Kooyong needs Josh, Victoria needs Josh and Australia needs Josh.

“The poll that counts is two weeks away. I never take anything for granted.”

Despite the latest Newspoll ­ predicting a Labor victory on May 21, with two-party preferred support for the Coalition falling to 46 per cent compared with Labor’s 54 per cent, the Treasurer said the fight for his seat would be close.

“It’s been encouraging the feedback this morning on the pre-poll, but it’s early days,” he said.

“There is only one poll that counts, and that is election day. I’ll be spending a lot of time here on pre-poll, the contest here will be tight.”

Liberal senator James Paterson was also supporting Mr Frydenberg at the pre-poll.

Michael Staindl – the man who unsuccessfully challenged Mr Frydenberg’s eligibility for parliament in 2020, claiming he inherited Hungarian citizenship from his mother – was handing out flyers about why voters should not ­re-elect the Treasurer.

Dr Ryan declared she would show up at the same pre-polling station for the next two weeks.

“For me, the mood is, you know, buoyant and positive and optimistic. So we’re feeling good,” she said.

“We know it’s going to be really close, super close, I think. This is where we are – it’s on. We need to be here in person.”

Kooyong resident Rick Kendall, 62, said he intended to vote for independents in the Senate and the Greens in the House of Representatives. “(I have) a general distaste with the majors. The environment is a big issue for me. And I’ve been happy for the smaller – you know – keep the bastards honest sort of approach.”