Focus turns to marginal fight

Leadership pressure in Braddon contest

THE political eyes of the nation are on the Tasmanian electorate of Braddon today as the marginal seat could deliver a result which may change the Labor leadership.

Both major parties are focusing on Braddon as five electorates around the nation head to the polls in today’s Super Saturday by-elections.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will return for the second time in as many days today to try to sway Braddon’s 70,000-odd voters on who should represent them in Canberra.

Both Labor’s Justine Keay and Liberal candidate Brett Whiteley have been the Member for Braddon before and this week’s YouGov Galaxy poll showed they are locked 50-50 after preferences.

However the poll, conducted for News Corp, revealed that if Anthony Albanese was the Labor leader Ms Keay would clearly win with a 53-47 two-party preferred result, putting pressure on Mr Shorten should Labor lose.

Yesterday, Labor Senator Penny Wong flew in to support Ms Keay’s bid while Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman was by the side of Liberal candidate Brett Whiteley.

Labor continued to beat the healthcare and Medicare drum while the Liberal camp stayed on point with more talk about jobs and investment and the fact only Mr Whiteley would be a member of the Government if elected.

Senator Wong shrugged off suggestions Mr Shorten’s leadership could be on the line if Labor lost Braddon.

“Bill is the leader and will remain the leader,” she said.

A Labor Facebook appeal urged voters to end Mr Whiteley’s political career by putting him last on the ballot sheet.

“What voters need to remember is it was Labor who fought against an increase in the retirement age and a cut in penalty rates.”

Franklin MP Julie Collins was also on hand to support Ms Keay and slam her op- ponent’s record on health.

“We Tasmanians know Mr Whiteley, a representative who thought it was ‘entirely necessary’ for people in Braddon to pay an extra $20 to see a doctor. I urge voters to reject him again,” Ms Collins said.

Ms Keay said her party had focused on health as the number one issue in Braddon but Labor was not a one-trick pony

with many infrastructure, tourism and educational policies also fully costed throughout the campaign.

“I see myself as a grassroots politician. If I can help one per- son then all the other political crap is worth it,” she said.

Penguin was a sea of blue as Liberal supporters converged on the seaside town.

Mr Hodgman called Mr Whiteley one of Australia’s hardest working politicians.

“Let’s make no mistake, a vote for a Labor, Green or independent candidate is a wasted vote,” Mr Hodgman said. “If Mr Whiteley is elected he will immediately become part of the Federal Government.”

Mr Whiteley spent three years as a federal member before losing to Ms Keay in 2016.

“If I am elected I will deliver because I can be a voice in government, not in opposition,” he told supporters. There will be 65 polling stations open across Braddon today.