End of the Three Amigos after Eric Hutchinson concedes in Lyons

THE third of Tasmania’s so-called Three Amigos has said adios to the electorate of Lyons.

THE third of Tasmania’s so-called Three Amigos has said adios to the electorate of Lyons.

Eric Hutchinson has told ABC Radio there was no realistic chance that he could win.

Former federal member for Lyons Eric Hutchinson. Picture: ROGER LOVELL

Last Saturday he rang Labor’s Brian Mitchell but claimed it was not a concession but merely to congratulate him on his vote.

Mr Hutchinson was elected in 2013 when Tony Abbott swept to power in the wake of Rudd-Gillard government chaos and a backlash over the collapse of the forest industry.

His fellow Amigos – Andrew Nikolic in Bass and Brett Whiteley in Braddon – were also voted out at this Federal Election after swings of up to 10.5 per cent.

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Mr Hutchinson suffered a 3.52 per cent swing and is presently trailing in two party preferred terms by 29,035 votes to Mr Mitchell’s 31,841.

Mr Hutchinson hung on in the hope that he would win a majority of postal votes but his two party preferred vote instead retreated marginally from 47.75 per cent on Tuesday to 47.7 per cent today.

He led Mr Mitchell 25,528 to 23,677 on first preferences but after the allocation of preferences from minor parties finished well behind.

Mr Hutchinson said he no longer had any influence and could not urge Malcolm Turnbull’s Government to honour its election promises, which included pledges worth about $50 million in Lyons.