LABOR’S pre-selection of a union representative over a local deputy mayor for the federal seat of Fremantle doesn’t appear to have disaffected voters, according to a Herald straw poll.
Even in the heart of latte-loving leftie territory (the Cappuccino Strip) the Chook was hard-pressed to find anyone planning to switch their vote to the Greens because of maritime union official Chris Brown’s pre-selection over Josh Wilson on Monday evening.
Mr Brown was comfortably endorsed by the party, getting backing from its political delegates 60 to 27 and union delegates 68 to 2.
While he lost the local ballot to Cr Wilson 110 to 155, campaign volunteer Ben Lawver pointed out that even if that had been weighted to be worth 75 per cent of the total (it’s currently worth 25 per cent) Mr Brown would still have comfortably won.
“Our message has clearly resonated with the community and I am proud of the effort our volunteers have put into the campaign,” Mr Brown said in a post-vote release which curiously omits reference to his full-time job with the union. Instead, it talks up his ownership of a local business.
“Now we transition the campaign to take on the Turnbull government.”
Cr Wilson was gracious in defeat, congratulating Mr Brown and thanking the many local supporters who’d backed his grassroots campaign. He said he’d be taking some time to recharge his batteries before throwing his energy back into his council role.
There had been speculation that choosing Mr Brown would upset Labor voters more attuned to Cr Wilson’s boss, sitting MP Melissa Parke, particularly over his support for offshore processing of asylum seekers.
But while the Chook’s poll found little support for the detention regime, virtually no one was prepared to switch allegiances to the Greens as a result.
“Never,” said 45-year Fremantle resident Jacob Chuk about switching votes.
“Process them here in Australia,” he says of refugees.
Mr Chuk says he wants his candidate to fight for more federal money for public transport, and to move the Outer Harbour project to Bunbury rather than Kwinana.
Rose, who didn’t give her last name, wasn’t keen on letting anyone in the country and was thinking about shifting her Labor vote this time round, but it was more likely heading to the Liberals than the Greens.
Horatio T Birdbath summed up what was a common theme: disillusion. Lamenting the dearth of “truth tellers” in Parliament the local artist was leaning towards the Greens. He says neither major party does enough for the disenfranchised.
Kaye Campbell says this time round she hasn’t a clue who she’ll vote for. She’s also disillusioned with the current crop of politicians saying they over-simplify issues and make such wafty commitments it’s hard to know where they really stand.
by STEVE GRANT and OTTOLINE SPEARMAN
