Julie Bishop denies China rhetoric impacts Bennelong by-election

Julie Bishop has denied that the Turnbull government’s rhetoric around Chinese interference is having an impact in Bennelong.

John Alexander campaigns for the Bennelong by-election. Picture: Toby Zerna.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has denied that the Turnbull government’s rhetoric around Chinese interference is having an impact on its candidate John Alexander’s prospects in Saturday’s Bennelong by-election.

The latest two-party preferred Newspoll has Mr Alexander tied 50-50 with Labor candidate Kristina Keneally in the north western Sydney seat, which is home to a large Chinese community.

“By-elections are always difficult, particularly for an incumbent government, but there will be a range of issues that affect the outcome in Bennelong,” Ms Bishop told Sky News.

“John Alexander is a very popular local member, he is working very hard, and he is a very strong advocate for the people of Bennelong, and I’m hoping that we’ll get a very strong result in Bennelong, but of course there are a whole range of issues that affect by-elections.

“I’ve always assumed that a by-election would be difficult to win. There are many by-elections where governments have lost, but there are others such as the New England by-election where we won, so you never take it for granted and I know John Alexander is working very hard to assure people that he wants to return as their member and continue the fabulous work that he’s been doing as the Member for Bennelong for some years now.”

Labor frontbencher Matt Thistlethwaite said he was hopeful that Ms Keneally could win Bennelong.

“I’ve been out to Bennelong on two occasions now and worked with Kristina Keneally,” Mr Thistlethwaite told Sky News.

“Her energy, her enthusiasm for that particular seat I think is overwhelming and I think she’s going to do a great job, and I’m hopeful that she’ll get over the line.

Mr Thistlethwaite claimed Mr Alexander “didn’t look like his heart was in it”.

“He looked like he was simply going through the motions,” he said.

“We were on the pre-poll one day. He lasted about 20 minutes and he took off. From the time he was there, you can tell on a person’s face, John Alexander didn’t look like his heart was in it, and I think that that’s starting to come through, and of course the fact that the Prime Minister and John Alexander aren’t talking about the issues that affect people, like the disaster the NBN’s been in the area, the fact that Catholic schools have had their funding cut, the problems with the health system.

“These are the issues that are really going to decide the election on the weekend, and that’s why I think Kristina Keneally’s in with a great chance.”