Cathy McGowan: ‘I will very much remain an independent’

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/18/cathy-mcgowan-victory-interview-mirabella

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The Independent MP Cathy McGowan has told Guardian Australia she won’t align with any political party following her ousting of prominent Coalition rightwinger Sophie Mirabella in the seat of Indi.

McGowan said she was “very relieved and very proud” to have won the closely-fought contest for the rural Victorian electorate, following Mirabella’s concession on Wednesday morning.

“It’s been an amazing journey,” she said. “I got a very lovely phone call from Sophie Mirabella this morning to congratulate me. There’s almost a sense of wonderment here about what a community can do. I look forward to bringing the concerns of people in Indi to Canberra.”

“It’s been a good campaign, with lots of energy. There was strong competition towards the end and it was certainly not an easy win. I think people in Indi are pleased I’ve won but also pleased it was a closely-fought campaign. No one side ran away with it.”

McGowan said she will be “working out” her position on national issues such as asylum seekers ahead of the resumption of parliament, but ruled out any deal with any party.

“The government has a large majority so I will be working with it to deliver things for Indi,” she said. “There’s lot of work that goes on in the committees that I will be involved in. But I will very much remain an independent. It won’t be a one-person show though – I will consult with the community about issues such as asylum seekers. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. ”

Mirabella, who was the shadow science minister and held the rural Victorian seat since 2001, said that it was a “high honour and a very special privilege” to be an MP.

“This election is over and the responsibility for the outcome is mine,” she said in a statement. “Despite the closeness of the count I have decided not to seek a recount. I unreservedly accept the decision of the democratic process.”

“Today is for Cathy McGowan. I wish her success in the service of the people of Indi.”

Mirabella held open the prospect of an attempt to regain the seat in the next election, stating: “I will work with every ounce of my being to see this seat return to the Coalition but that is for another day.

“I am just so grateful to everyone in the Liberal and National parties who have supported my campaign, to Tony Abbott, I repeat my overwhelming thanks for his selfless generosity and mentorship.”

Mirabella secured 44.7% of the primary vote in Indi, down 7% on the 2010 election. McGowan won 31% of the primary vote and was carried to victory on a strong preference flow from the Greens, Labor and the Palmer United party.

In a close and prolonged count, McGowan is currently 389 votes ahead of Mirabella. However, with little more than 600 postal and pre-poll votes to count, Mirabella’s chances of overcoming this deficit is negligible, based on voting trends.

McGowan ran a broad-based insurgent campaign based on local concerns, articulated through a “kitchen table” consultation called Voice 4 Indi, over broadband availability, mobile phone blackspots and health and transport infrastructure.

Her campaign argued that Mirabella was an out-of-touch career-focused politician who has taken Indi for granted. Mirabella is viewed by many of her opponents as being divisive and ideological.

In response, Mirabella’s camp argued she was a strong advocate for the region and that Indi will suffer from not having representation at the heart of the new Coalition government.

Mirabella is the only sitting Liberal MP to lose their seat in the election.

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