A sign of things to come
The result of the recent by-election (in Wagga Wagga) was, in my opinion, an indication of what might happen during the year of 2019.
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The Berejiklian Government should contemplate the notion that they might not win another term, and that Labour’s Luke Foley might become the next premier of the whole state.
The next federal election will be due a short time after that, and Bill Shorten might become the next Prime Minister of the whole nation.
Get ready, folks for major changes in Australian politics next year.
Trevor Koop, Wagga
Byelection musings
Given it now seems inevitable that Dr Joe McGirr will become the Member for Wagga Wagga, the result adds significant interest to next year's state election.
Had Labor won the seat, it would have almost inevitably returned to the conservative fold at the general elections, however, hard working independents have an excellent record of holding seats in provincial and rural areas, due to their high profile and the outcomes they can achieve for their electorates.
With the March elections expected to be tight, Dr McGirr may well find himself in a very influential position when it comes to determining who will form government and the constituents of Wagga can expect to be made promises they would never have dreamed of should they had still been in a safe Liberal seat.
The imposition of having to vote again last Saturday, and voting the way they did, may well prove to have been worth the effort.
Ian De Landelles, Murrays Beach
Program should be compulsory viewing
The episode of Q&A on our ABC this week, where a panel of impressive young people responded to questions from an audience of high school students was inspiring and informative and, indeed, gives a hint of hope for the future.
I wonder what politicians like Hansen and Abetz ,for example, think about this example of the ABC at its best.
The program should be compulsory viewing for our so-called leaders.
They just may learn about the concerns and wishes of our young people as they look to living in a world made by us, a world that they do not see as particularly good.
Mary Kidson, Wagga
Parties lose appeal
Is it any wonder that the people are turning away from the major parties, as shown by the Wagga voters in the weekend byelection.
Why would you vote for a candidate who is hamstrung by having to toe the line to protect their own position. Sussan Ley had spoken strongly and impressively about her desire to address the issue of cruel live exports. But her recent promotion by Scott Morrison now means she is not in a position to follow through, and not in a position to say much at all any more.
For players in both the Liberal and the Labor parties, doing the right thing is never as important as doing the right thing by your party. You really can’t blame voters from being disillusioned, and turning away from that sort of representation.