Wentworth by-election

Anonymous and false email circulated claiming Phelps had pulled out of the campaign due to being diagnosed with HIV - and encouraging voters to go Liberal.

Well - if anything that'll cause even more backlash against the Libs ... add in the unrest in the National Party re leadership and it's like the government is handing the seat over on a silver platter

'Dirty tricks': Fake email sent to Wentworth voters claims Kerryn Phelps has HIV

 

Disgraceful. It would be good to find out who is behind that. Someone who supports the Liberal party? Or someone who wants to damage the Liberal party? It could be anyone.

 

I still don't understand why Malcolm is out... did it achieve anything?

 

I'm with you - and nope

 

Interesting watching the Drum last night ... the three main independents and the Greens representative. Pretty impressed by all of them

The Drum: Thursday 18/10/2018

 

Malcolm is out because he wasn't seen as upholding Liberal party values, whatever they even are these days. The reality is that he never did. The first time they rolled him as opposition leader was because he supported an ETS, clearly out of step with the rank and file. Why they ever put him in a prime minister is beyond me. He was very popular with Labor voters. It seems to me his goal all along has been to wreck the Liberal party. Mission accomplished I would say.

 

I think he was too conservative for the backroom puppets - but he was more in touch with common Australia than the "common bloke" in before and after him.

He was torn between the two parties because he is primarily a businessman - who supports small business, innovation and forwarding thinking (used to be the Liberal way) and just getting the job done - but also had a very keen social conscience (Labor).

I don't think the Liberal's know where they are at the moment. They seem to be big business supporters, to the detriment of the environment and social humanity - but there is so much infighting I couldn't tell you what any of their policies are atm, other than trying to save their own skins.

 

I'm just worried.... about the whole scenario. It is ridiculous.

As a small business owner and a property investor I'm worried that nobody is concerned about the long term prosperity of our economy.

We're all but assured of a labor government and the removal of negative gearing is going to amplify the pressure on an already weakened property market. This will coincide with further reform out of the royal commission, and higher cost of lending via rate increases in the US.

Can't see any way this won't impact the wider economy, hence my worry that we're all going to go through a tough period in the years ahead.

Those who can think, anticipate and evolve will capitalize on the opportunities that are presented... always do... but for the large percentage of people they won't.

I feel like politics has failed.

 

A 22 percent swing in what was the safest liberal seat in the country....

Somewhere, Malcom is doing a happy dance. His final shot landed bang on.

 

Probably the best news in the long term for the Liberal Party ,and they will learn a valuable lesson .
Should something happen in years to come cooler heads should prevail before they try and get rid of a sitting PM.
Good to see some politicians still have conviction to follow through with what they say..

 

I believe Phelps is well respected. However, I would not discount the protest vote. A 22% percent swing against is a hiding. It is more than Phelps is a good candidate even though she is.

 

John Howard lost his seat (Bennelong) while he was the PM and Liberal got it back anyways. It will be back

 

Gotta get Paddington out of the electorate .

 

As said, the vote was for more than "to" Phelps - it's a protest against the complacency and shortsightedness of the major parties who have no long term policies and appear to be only interested in winning votes for the next electoral cycle ... shown by ScoMo's desperate thought bubble of moving the embassy

A political commentator mentioned last night, that they anticipate to see a lot more of this - independents winning who are there for the good of the constituents and future of the country/planet - rather than blindly voting for main stream parties

 

The things it achieved (that we didn't know ):

• Showed how the members of parliament (both sides) are more interested in their own @r5535 & political point scoring than any long term future of the country
• Whether the deposed PM/leader (aka Abbott, Rudd, Turnbull etc) remains in parliament or steps down, it leaves a bad taste in the minds of voters
• The system needs reform (Labor has done it after their last big rap on the knuckles and can on longer get rid of a PM without a vote from the rank & file)
• Politics is a hard game (ask the families of any politician)
• The next Federal election is mid-2019 but the date isn't straightforward - linky

What does the result mean for the country?

• She'll be sitting for possibly 6 months

Mod note: at poster's request, removed disproved statement. Thanks @TSK