THE Labor Party in the seat of Farrer has secured more than 23,000 votes, despite candidate Christian Kunde pulling out of the race.
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Australian Liberty Alliance candiate Ron Pike has secured more than 5000 votes and Greens candidate Amanda Cohn has almost 7000 votes.
Liberal Party Griffith branch vice president Paul Snaidero said it was hoped Member for Farrer Sussan Ley would help unlock Griffith’s potential.
“Sussan Ley has heard us loud and clear on the issue of water,” Mr Snaidero said.
“Repealing the basin plan is probably not an option but reassessing things like environmental flows and the ignorance of letting water our during one of the wettest Junes in history is.”
Mr Snaidero said the imbalances in Ms Farrer’s electorate needed to be addressed. “The triple bottom line is not there, it’s skewed to the environment and we need a return to balance.”
Charles Sturt University law expert Dr Bede Harris said voters had turned away from the major parties, indicating profound disenchantment with the way politics is conducted in Australia.
“It shows that voters are no longer swayed by the major parties’ self-interested appeals to ‘stability’,” Dr Harris said.
Dr Harris said Australia’s electoral system did not reflect the view of voters, with nearly a quarter voting for minor parties – a fact that is not reflected in the allocation of seats in the lower house.
“It is time to change our voting system so that it produces results which fairly represent the views of voters,” Dr Harris said.
The Greens recorded their best ever result in the seat of Farrer. A 4.4 per cent swing to The Greens saw Dr Amanda Cohn pick up 8.4 per cent of the primary vote.
This was the second largest swing to the Greens in any NSW electorate.
The swing against Liberal candidate Sussan Ley was 4.3 per cent and Labor also suffered a swing of 2.1 per cent.
“I am extremely pleased with the result and so proud of my team here in Farrer,” Dr Cohn said.
“We’ve run a strong grassroots campaign and voters have clearly responded to that.
“The 4.3 per cent swing against the Coalition, even in this ‘safe seat’ shows our message is getting out there – Farrer voters want stronger action or climate change, a fairer tax system and free and accessible healthcare in rural areas.”