White flag waved already in Federal Election battle

Tag: australia

OPPOSING candidates admit they have more of a ‘mission impossible’ than a sporting chance against Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey in the Federal Election.

The candidates from minor parties say they simply can’t win and can only hope for a protest vote in the blue-ribbon seats of Warringah and North Sydney.

Only Sex Party candidate Austen Tayshus has the audacity to suggest he could beat Mr Abbott.

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Mr Abbott has three rivals from minor parties, plus Labor, for the seat of Warringah, including Secular Party candidate Kenneth Cook who wants voters to protest against “religious dogma”.

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Mr Hockey also has four rivals including Australian Democrat candidate Daniel Pearce who says people are glad to at least see the Democrats back on the hustings.

The Warringah seat has been held by Mr Abbott since 1994.

It has been a Liberal seat since it’s inception in 1922, apart from Percy Spender, who was an Independent for three years until changing to the United Australia Party (Liberal Party predecessor) in 1940.

Mr Tayshus said while he was well-aware the seat was “very conservative”, he believed he had a good chance to win.

“People are sick and tired of the facade of Tony Abbott. He winds back time,” he said.

Mr Tayshus said Mr Abbott’s “conservative” views on abortion were “ridiculous” and would not go down well with young voters.

“I also want an investigation into the child abuse in Catholic Schools but of course (Mr Abbott) will never agree to that because he’s best friends with (Cardinal) George Pell.”

Mr Cooke said the only person that had a chance to win the seat was Mr Abbott, but he decided to enter to let people express their dismay at the influence religion has in politics.

The North Sydney seat has been held by Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey since 1996, when independent Ted Mack retired after six years in the seat.

Before that, the seat was held by Liberal-style politicians from 1910.

Mr Pearce said he knows he can’t win the seat but wanted to enter to give people an alternative.

He said people had come up to him during the campaign saying “I thought (the Australian Democrats) were dead. I’m glad you’re back”.

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