NSW: Liberal party wins Bradfield by-election

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2009
NSW: Liberal party wins Bradfield by-election

SYDNEY, Dec 5 AAP - The Liberal Party has retained the federal seat of Bradfield, with
candidate Paul Fletcher claiming victory in the blue-ribbon Sydney electorate.

Mr Fletcher, a former Optus executive, had 55.38 per cent of the primary votes at the
close of counting on Saturday night.

That was just 4.74 percentage points less than the Liberal vote in 2007.

On a two-party preferred basis, Mr Fletcher had about 63 per cent of votes, while the
Australian Greens' candidate Susie Gemmell held about 36 per cent.

Labor opted not to run a candidate.

The Liberal Party had been expected to retain Bradfield, the north shore seat held
by former opposition leader Brendan Nelson since 1996.

But the swing against the Liberal candidate was less than predicted.

The by-election was held amid speculation that the party's abrupt federal leadership
change this week, and its sudden policy shift against an emissions trading scheme, would
erode the party's traditional voter base.

Mr Fletcher said the people of Bradfield were concerned about climate change, but it
was not the overriding issue.

"My experience as I talked to people during the campaign was that people were concerned
about private health insurance, overdevelopment, economic management and so on," he said.

"Climate change came up as an issue, but it wasn't the number one issue.

"Certainly the Liberal Party needs to have a response on climate change as our leader
Tony Abbott has said.

"But it is not the only issue to campaign on."

Mr Fletcher said the result sent a strong message to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and
federal Labor that many people simply do not understand a proposed emissions trading scheme.

Mr Fletcher said he was strongly behind his new leader, and "obviously it's a pleasing
result for Tony Abbott as our leader".

There were 22 candidates contesting the Bradfield by-election, including a pole-dancing
human rights lawyer representing political newcomers the Australian Sex Party.

AAP lm/jl/goc/

KEYWORD: BRADFIELD WRAP (PIX AVAILABLE)

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