Bookmakers back Susie Bower over Rebecca White in critical federal battle for Lyons

Bookmakers have backed an early favourite to win the pivotal seat of Lyons as Liberal candidate Susie Bower and her high-profile Labor opponent Rebecca White are set to face-off.

Liberal candidate for Lyons, Susie Bower. Picture: Linda Higginson

Bookmakers have installed Liberal candidate Susie Bower as the early favourite to win the seat of Lyons over high-profile Labor opponent leader Rebecca White at the upcoming federal election, in a result that could have serious ramifications for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s hopes of a second term in office.

Releasing its market on the highly anticipated battle between experienced industry chief executive, Ms Bower, and former Tasmanian opposition leader Ms White, national online betting agency Sportsbet quoted the Liberals as the seat’s $1.60 front runner, with Labor at $2.20, and “any other candidate” considered a remote $15 chance.

Nationally, the betting firm considers Prime Minister Albanese a $2.25 chance of retaining power, with the Peter Dutton-led Coalition quoted at a more likely $1.66.

Won by Labor’s Brian Mitchell for a third consecutive time at the 2022 federal poll, Lyons is a highly marginal seat that is expected to be the focus of heavy campaigning from both major parties ahead of an election due to be held by May.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appears at a press conference in Hobart with Labor's candidate for Lyons, Rebecca White, in January. Picture: NewsWire / Eddie Safarik

Although the Prime Minister is yet to officially call the election, both Ms Bower and Ms White declared they were ready to fight for support of voters across the sprawling Tasmanian electorate.

“Lyons will be a critical seat in the federal election campaign, and I have no doubt that it will be hard-fought and very close,” Ms Bower, the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone chief executive, said.

“The only way we can get Australia back on track is to elect a Peter Dutton Liberal government.

“I am focused squarely on listening and advocating plans to address the issues of concern to the voters of Lyons which are overwhelmingly cost of living pressures, health and GP access, and youth crime.

“The voters of Lyons are looking for practical, common sense and achievable plans to address their issues and that is what I will deliver.”

Ms White, a former Tasmanian opposition leader and current state MP who

has previously stated she would not begin her federal campaign until the election is called, was endorsed by the Labor Party last November after Mr Mitchell stepped aside.

Ms White told the Mercury that as a state member for Lyons since 2010, she had the experience and passion to best represent its voters in Canberra.

“Anyone who thinks people in my electorate want Peter Dutton as their Prime Minister hasn’t been out talking to Tasmanians,” Ms White said.

“My community is telling me they want cost of living relief and affordable healthcare – like the investment Labor has made in Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.

“One thing people are absolutely certain about when I speak to them is that they don’t want Peter Dutton and his ridiculous nuclear energy idea here in Tassie that will put up power prices by $1200.”

Liberal candidate for Lyons, Susie Bower with Leader of the Opposition, Peter Dutton. Picture: Linda Higginson

Professor Richard Herr said Lyons was the largest and arguably most diverse of Tasmania’s five federal electorates, predominantly rural in its demographics, and with a predominantly primary industry-based economy.

Prof Herr said although national issues – particularly those relating to the economy – would no doubt become a central focus of the Lyons campaign, regional concerns involving health infrastructure, education, banking would also be high on candidates’ agendas.

“Politically, Lyons has swung back and forth between ALP and Liberal parties, but has also been characterised historically by personal loyalty to its members and so it does not automatically follow national or even state voting trends at any particular election,” Prof Herr said.

“So an ‘open’ seat will level the field across all candidates.

“An important qualification here is that Bec White does have some claim to a sort of incumbency having long represented Lyons at the state level.

“This quasi-incumbency does come with pluses and minuses since Ms White will not be carrying Mr Mitchell’s baggage, but she will have some holdover baggage of her own.

“It is difficult to see a landslide for either major party candidate. Lyons is likely to be close.”

Originally published as Bookmakers back Susie Bower over Rebecca White in critical federal battle for Lyons