Labor on track to hold Lyons: poll

Lyons is a seat of fine margins and fresh opinion polling reveals whether Labor will cling onto it with new candidate Rebecca White or if it’s Susie Bower’s time for the Liberals.

Labor MP for Lyons Rebecca White.

The Labor Party is on track to retain the federal seat of Lyons, fresh opinion polling shows.

The uComms survey of 712 voters by SMS and voice polling was conducted at the beginning of April. It was commissioned by the Australian Forest Products Association.

It predicts that Labor would retain the seat with 50.94 per cent of the vote after preferences, compared with the Liberal Party on 49.06 per cent.

If that result held true at the May 3 Federal election, it would be almost a photo finish of the 2022 result, which was 50.92 to 49.08 per cent in Labor’s favour.

Labor’s Rebecca White has replaced incumbent Brian Mitchell against Liberal challenger Susie Bower in the marginal electorate.

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

Ms Bower won a 4.26 per cent swing in her favour last time.

The poll reveals first preference responses of 29.49 per cent in favour of the Liberals, 27.23 per cent in favour of Labor and 14.56 per cent in favour of the Greens.

The Lambie Network recorded 5.8 per cent support; One Nation, 4.1 per cent and other candidates, 5.6 per cent.

But a large section of the electorate — 13.11 per cent — remains undecided, suggesting the true results is too close to call.

The poll also asked respondents their attitudes to forestry.

It revealed that eight in ten either agreed or strongly agreed that Tasmania should “maintain its sustainable native timber industry” and that even more trees should be grown to help fight climate change and to boost wood supply.

Nine in ten agreed or strongly agreed that timber sold in Australia should be labelled with its country of origin.

And more than 60 per cent of respondents said they’d be ‘more likely’ to vote for a local candidate or political party with strong policies to strengthen Australia’s forestry and timber industries.

AFPA chief Diana Hallam said the results of the poll spoke for themselves.

“They clearly demonstrate that voters in Lyons want a local MP and federal government that supports one of the electorate’s most critical providers of jobs and economic activity, in our sustainable forestry sector.

“Ahead of the election, AFPA calls on all sides of federal politics to commit to our Australian Timber, Australia’s Future election platform in full – so our sector can realise its potential for the country and the world.”