Mulder admits it’ll be a battle
MAVERICK L e g i s l a t i v e Councillor Tony Mulder concedes he is the underdog as he faces the fight of his political career in next Saturday’s Upper House elections.
Voters in the Legislative Council divisions of Rumney, Murchison and Launceston will head to the polls on May 6, with independent incumbents seeking re-election in all three seats.
The field in Rumney is crowded, with former Glenorchy alderman Steve Mav, Clarence alderman Debra Thurley and administration manager Shelley Shay running as independents, and Glamorgan Spring Bay councillor Cheryl Arnol running for the Shooters and Fishers Party.
Labor is particularly keen to win back Rumney and has mustered MPs, staffers and volunteers for a significant doorknocking campaign in support of candidate Sarah Lovell.
Mr Mulder acknowledged he faced an uphill battle for a second term.
As of yesterday, he had doorknocked more than 6700 homes and — according to the pedometer on his smart phone — trudged almost 1300km.
“I have a high recognition factor out there but this is Tony Mulder versus the Labor Party.
“The message I’m trying to get out there is the independence of the Upper House. If a party has control, we are just looking at a rubber stamp or House of obstruction,” he said.
“This is Labor heartland. I didn’t win the seat of Rumney [former Labor minister] Lin Thorp lost it.
“I consider underdog.”
Although he’s a former Lib- myself an eral Party member and continues to have Liberal leanings, Mr Mulder said he had scrutinised each piece of legislation solely on its merits.
He said his second-term priorities would be advocating for road upgrades to ease the region’s worsening traffic problems and for a new purpose-built school for Sorell.
Ms Lovell, who works for union United Voice, said she was feeling optimistic about her chances. “I’ve had a wonderful response from people out there in the community,” she said.
“What I’m hearing is people are disappointed with their current representation and the current Government and are ready for a change.”
Ms Lovell said roads and public transport were significant issues for Rumney voters.
In the far North-West electorate of Murchison, highly regarded independent MLC Ruth Forrest is seeking a third term.
It will be her first time facing an election in 12 years, with Circular Head mayor Daryl Quilliam running as an independent.
Ms Forrest said she hoped to bring her years of experience and knowledge to a further term of closely scrutinising legislation and representing her region.
“Generally, what’s in the best interests of the state is in the best interests of my electorate,” she said.
She said she was fiercely independent despite being labelled many things by opponents over the years.
“I’ve been called a closet Liberal, a Labor stooge and a Green sympathiser,” she said.
“I’ve been a pest to the government, not just this Government but the previous one too, because I have undertaken my role of holding them to account and not just acting as a rubber stamp.”
Last year, Ms Forrest had a highly public dispute with Police Minister Rene Hidding after she accused him of bullying her at a parliamentary dinner.
Mr Hidding in turn threatened to sue Ms Forrest for defamation.
The dispute was eventually resolved through conciliation.
Ms Forrest said she did not think the dispute had affected her chances of re-election one way or the other.
“It certainly hasn’t been a topic of conversation during the election campaign,” she said.
The State Government will be watching this round of Upper House elections carefully, given the fine left- right balance in the independent-dominated House.
If Labor wins another seat, it will make the Government’s life a lot harder when it comes to contentious legislation.
Earlier this month, the State Government angered some MLCs by delaying controversial forestry and anti- discrimination legislation until the next session of Parliament, which falls after the election.
TONY MULDER