Sydney by-election too close to call
The by-election for Sydney remains too tight to predict with a poll released this week showing there remains not a hairbreadth between Liberal Party candidate Shayne Mallard and independent Alex Greenwich.
A ReachTEL poll, commissioned by Greenwich, found that of the 422 people surveyed just over 31 per cent would support the independent candidate who has also received the backing of outgoing MP Clover Moore.
Support for Mallard was almost just as strong with 30.6 per cent saying they would vote for him. Greens candidate Chris Harris polled 25 per cent, which is double the vote the party received at the last state election for the seat in March 2011.
The by-election is believed to be the first state or federal poll where the two frontrunners, Greenwich and Mallard, are openly gay men.
Those surveyed were not informed Labor would not be running a candidate with 12.5 per cent of respondents selecting ‘Other’ as their preferred choice.
Harris told SX the poll was “very encouraging” for his campaign which he described as the only one offering a truly independent voice from State Government and Sydney Town Hall.
“While we are the underdogs the poll demonstrates that the progressive vote in Sydney is well in excess of 50 per cent. It also shows a big swing to the Greens in the lower house in the absence of Clover Moore,” he said.
“The Greens and Clover share many values and this poll shows that voters understand that after eight years as a City Councillor I will go in to bat for them against the big end of town and fight for sustainable development, responsible environmental solutions and a fair go.”
The poll’s release came as Greenwich welcomed more high-profile supporters to his campaign, with Professor Kerryn Phelps and Surry Hills Baptist Church pastor Mike Hercock both backing the former Australian Marriage Equality national convener.
“We have seen first hand how effective Alex is in advocating for our community and delivering results,” Phelps said.
“He is a compassionate, tenacious advocate for justice, he has a clear understanding of the issues that affect communities and small businesses and works effectively with all sides of politics.”
ABC election analyst Antony Green said despite the small sample of this week’s poll it would seem Greenwich could be considered the slight favourite now.
“Before Labor made its announcement, Mallard was probably favourite to win the by-election,” Green said.
“With Labor having sacrificed its own support, a strong switch of Labor supporters to Greenwich means he has firmed to favouritism to win the Sydney by-election.”
Media reports suggest the Liberal Party has provided Mallard a campaign budget of $200,000, which is about double what Greenwich and Harris will be spending.
Mallard told SX he would not be commenting on the poll.
- Tags: Alex Greenwich, Antony Green, By-Election, Campaign, Chris Harris, Kerryn Phelps, Liberal Party, Mike Hercock, Politics, Shayne Mallard, SX, Sydney, The Greens
Comments (2)
Oh God here we go. The cuffling commandos in the LNP appoint Fred Vile to oversee the Gay Panic Defence Review, then pull out their chaff bag and legislate to remove Clover Moore, an elected representative chosen by the majority of people in the seat of Sydney for over 30 years. These glittering cuffling commandos are having their own Alan Jones pride march the week after Mardi-Gras, just do not expect me to vote for them.
Barry O'farrell and his liberals together with Fred Nile and The Shooters Party got together to do what they could never do at the ballot box. They removed by an act of Parliament our democratically elected State MP Clover Moore. Buoyed by the ongoing bullying campaign against our democratically elected member by The Telegraph , emboldened by the ratings of the liberal party's favourite son Alan Jones the liberals not only trashed democracy by removing our Independent MP they did not even have the courtesy to let her serve out her term. Alan Jones even suggested Clover Moore be put in a chaff bag along with the Prime Minister and be thrown off the heads. It is right and fitting that we reelect an Independent to reclaim this seat for the people,not for some particular Party .We want a strong individual not bound to party rules and backroom
deals.We must make sure the liberal do not steal our seat of Sydney.
Clover Moore endorsed Alex Greenwich because she knows he shares her vision for a fair and equitable Sydney , a green and sustainable Sydney . A smart and innovative Sydney for the future. We the constituents have the added advantage of Clovers endorsed candidate Alex Greenwich being a smart articulate individual renowned around the nation for his incredible work campaigning for marriage equality. This is a young man familiar with the corridors of Parliaments , both State and Federal. This is a man who is used to working both sides of the political aisle. Is there no wonder that he is getting endorsements from all sides of the political spectrum in this forced by election. Keep Sydney Strong and Independent by voting 1 Alex Greenwich.