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State government to blame for Tasmanian Labor backlash, says Wilkie State government to blame for Tasmanian Labor backlash, says Wilkie
(8 days later)
The Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie has said the minority Labor-Green state government was responsible for the swing of 9.3 percentage points against Labor at Saturday’s election – the biggest swing of any state.The Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie has said the minority Labor-Green state government was responsible for the swing of 9.3 percentage points against Labor at Saturday’s election – the biggest swing of any state.
Wilkie himself enjoyed a 14.46-point swing from Labor, increasing his two-party preferred margin from 2.42% in 2010 to 31.34% this time, with 84.48% of the vote in.Wilkie himself enjoyed a 14.46-point swing from Labor, increasing his two-party preferred margin from 2.42% in 2010 to 31.34% this time, with 84.48% of the vote in.
Wilkie put this down to personal attacks on him by Labor and the Greens backfiring.Wilkie put this down to personal attacks on him by Labor and the Greens backfiring.
“Certainly the Labor party and the Greens based their campaign on attacking me personally and trying to discredit me personally and that was not very well received by many people in the community,” he said.“Certainly the Labor party and the Greens based their campaign on attacking me personally and trying to discredit me personally and that was not very well received by many people in the community,” he said.
“Remembering that one of the reasons why the public is so over politics and politicians is that it has become so toxic and personal and nasty, for them to continue that against me convinced some people to get behind me.”“Remembering that one of the reasons why the public is so over politics and politicians is that it has become so toxic and personal and nasty, for them to continue that against me convinced some people to get behind me.”
Wilkie’s seat of Denison is one of five federal electorates in Tasmania. Of the remaining four, which were all previously held by Labor, three fell to the Coalition.Wilkie’s seat of Denison is one of five federal electorates in Tasmania. Of the remaining four, which were all previously held by Labor, three fell to the Coalition.
Wilkie said that a correction from the 2010 swing towards Labor was also responsible for the massive anti-Labor swing in the Apple Isle.Wilkie said that a correction from the 2010 swing towards Labor was also responsible for the massive anti-Labor swing in the Apple Isle.
“There is obviously an important part of the explanation that the state government is so on the nose, but also we were probably due for a correction anyway because in 2010, Tasmania swung strongly towards Labor and the Greens compared with much of the rest of country … It might have counted for a couple of percent,” he said.“There is obviously an important part of the explanation that the state government is so on the nose, but also we were probably due for a correction anyway because in 2010, Tasmania swung strongly towards Labor and the Greens compared with much of the rest of country … It might have counted for a couple of percent,” he said.
Wilkie entered the national parliament in 2010 and famously signed the independents’ agreement with former prime minister Julia Gillard and the Greens to form a minority government in the hung parliament.Wilkie entered the national parliament in 2010 and famously signed the independents’ agreement with former prime minister Julia Gillard and the Greens to form a minority government in the hung parliament.
However, he broke the deal after the prime minister refused to introduce legislation for mandatory pre-commitment technology in poker machines by 2014 as agreed.However, he broke the deal after the prime minister refused to introduce legislation for mandatory pre-commitment technology in poker machines by 2014 as agreed.
Wilkie said part of his popularity was the fact that he tore up his agreement after the failure of the gambling reforms.Wilkie said part of his popularity was the fact that he tore up his agreement after the failure of the gambling reforms.
“Being an independent, a narrative starts to develop about the David and Goliath struggle, the lone person up against powerful forces,” Wilkie said.“Being an independent, a narrative starts to develop about the David and Goliath struggle, the lone person up against powerful forces,” Wilkie said.
“People get very protective. You know the old saying, ‘I may not like him but he’s ours.’ There’s a lot of really complex issues in the mix.”“People get very protective. You know the old saying, ‘I may not like him but he’s ours.’ There’s a lot of really complex issues in the mix.”
Labor’s Julie Collins in Franklin was the only one out of four Labor members to hold her seat, suffering a two-party preferred swing of 5.89 percentage points.Labor’s Julie Collins in Franklin was the only one out of four Labor members to hold her seat, suffering a two-party preferred swing of 5.89 percentage points.
This compared with a 10.87-percentage-point swing against Geoff Lyons in Bass, 9.85 against Sid Sidebottom in Braddon and 13.71 against Dick Adams in Lyons – all of whom lost.This compared with a 10.87-percentage-point swing against Geoff Lyons in Bass, 9.85 against Sid Sidebottom in Braddon and 13.71 against Dick Adams in Lyons – all of whom lost.
Adams, who has been in parliament for 20 years, told the ABC his political life had long been tied to forestry issues and smaller communities in the Lyons electorate but admitted the Labor campaign in Tasmania had not been great.Adams, who has been in parliament for 20 years, told the ABC his political life had long been tied to forestry issues and smaller communities in the Lyons electorate but admitted the Labor campaign in Tasmania had not been great.
“There have been major changes in forestry agreement and state legislation wasn’t popular,” he said. “It wasn’t a great campaign. [The ALP] has got a tendency in Tasmania – because of Hobart – to pool resources and the machine’s got to twist [towards Hobart]. That’s got to be straightened to make sure that [Labor] machine is working right across the state. That is always a challenge down here.”“There have been major changes in forestry agreement and state legislation wasn’t popular,” he said. “It wasn’t a great campaign. [The ALP] has got a tendency in Tasmania – because of Hobart – to pool resources and the machine’s got to twist [towards Hobart]. That’s got to be straightened to make sure that [Labor] machine is working right across the state. That is always a challenge down here.”
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