Super Saturday by-elections: Georgina Downer dealt blow in Mayo

The Liberal Party’s star recruit has been dealt a huge blow in her bid to become the Downer family’s fourth-generation MP.

Centre Alliance candidate for the seat of Mayo, Rebekha Sharkie. Picture: AAP

Centre Alliance candidate Rebekha Sharkie has received a “huge” boost in the race to win the Mayo by-election after Labor and the Greens placed her second on their how-to-vote cards.

In a blow for the Liberal Party’s star recruit Georgina Downer, Labor directed constituents in Mayo to vote No 1 for its candidate Reg Coutts, followed by Ms Sharkie at No 2 and Greens candidate Major Moogy Sumner at No 3.

Ms Downer was placed last — in the 7th spot.

The Greens have produced a similar how-to-vote card, with Major Sumner at No 1, Ms Sharkie at No 2, Mr Coutts at No 3 and Ms Downer given fifth position.

The ABC’s election analyst Antony Green said the preferences would be “hugely” beneficial for Ms Sharkie, who in 2016 as a Nick Xenophon Team candidate won the safe Liberal seat off Jamie Briggs on preferences.

“Labor’s going to finish third and the Greens fourth. Sharkie and Georgina will finish first and second in some order. Labor and the Greens preferences will be distributed and delivered to Sharkie, as recommended,” he said.

“At the (2016) federal election Labor didn’t direct preferences and there were very strong flows (to Ms Sharkie). You’d expect them to be even stronger this time.”

The SA Liberals lashed the Greens’ and Labor’s cards, claiming a vote for Ms Sharkie would “put (Bill) Shorten a step closer to becoming prime minister”.

Liberal candidate for Mayo, Georgina Downer. Picture: AAP

“It is a strange alliance we have in Mayo — a Sharkie, Labor, Greens alliance — it raises questions as to what Ms Sharkie will owe the Greens and Labor on the back of this support,” Liberal state director (SA) Sascha Meldrum said.

“What is clear is that the people of Mayo want a strong voice to represent them and do not want a Shorten Labor government. Bill Shorten is backing Ms Sharkie because he knows, that if given the chance, she’s likely to back him into power.”

Labor’s how-to-vote card for Mayo.

Ms Sharkie, who is not preferencing anyone but herself on her how-to-vote card, said she had done no preference deals and had “no control” over SA Labor or any party contesting the by-election.

“SA Liberals have got an absolute hide to talk about how others preference and whether there’s some kind of ‘allegiance’,” Ms Sharkie said.

“They were very happy with the Greens in the state (election) campaign, preferencing them above SA Best (Nick Xenophon’s state party). They would not have won the seat of Heysen in particular if the Greens had not done that preference deal with them.”

Prepolling for Mayo, which Ms Sharkie held on 5.4 per cent before she quit parliament for being a British citizen when she nominated for the 2016 election, opens today.

A ReachTEL poll of 736 respondents commissioned by progressive think tank the Australia Institute had Ms Sharkie ahead of Ms Downer on a two party preferred basis 62-38 per cent.

SA Labor has been contacted for comment.

The Greens’ instructions for Mayo.

The Turnbull government estimates Ms Sharkie voted with Labor 58 per cent of the time during 304 divisions in the House of Representatives, while Ms Sharkie said she voted with the opposition 41 per cent of the time across all divisions.

She voted with the government in 49 per cent of divisions, according to her website.

The Liberal Party’s how-to-vote card.