Comments on: Victoria and Albert (Park)

By: Paul Kavanagh

Paul Kavanagh — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 10:23:36 +0000

Amongst those voters in Albert Parkwho know that the Democrats are contesting, I sense solid support.

However many voters don’t know that the Democrats are standing, as the Democrats are virtually ignored by the “serious media”.

I’ve been attending pre-polling every day, been interviewed on community radio, been assessed by numerous community groups, and have a team of helpers letterboxing the whole electorate with a terrific leaftlet – including one young Sydney Democrat who came down to help.

Over two weeks I’ve been meeting/ greeting people in Armstrong St, Brighton Rd, Southbank, Clarendon St, Glenhuntly Rd, Barkly St and elsewhere – tomorrow morning Senator Lyn Allison and I are meeting shoppers at South Melbourne Market.

Despite this effort and considerable expense, the Age and the Hun have ignored me and given enormous coverage to the Liberals who aren’t even standing, while ignoring candidates who are working their guts out.

Despite everything I’m doing, I still get the recuring comment “Oh, I didn’t know the Democrats are standing”. APEC has not helped.

Without the media presenting voters with information about candidates, the effectivesneess of democracy is impaired and decision making remains embedded in a cosy clique.

Paul Kavanagh
Democrats candidate, Albert Park

By: Frank Calabrese

Frank Calabrese — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 13:01:35 +0000

Molotov Says:
August 19th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
Would it be possible to hold these elections on the same day as the federal election or is that a strain on resources or something?

Unfortunately under the Electorate, the States aren’t allowed to hold a poll in conjuction with a Federal Poll. Hence as discussed in another thread, Beattie can’t hold a state run plebicite in conjucnction with a federal one that the AEC run.

By: Molotov

Molotov — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 12:49:03 +0000

Would it be possible to hold these elections on the same day as the federal election or is that a strain on resources or something?

By: Blair

Blair — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 07:48:03 +0000

The demographics of Albert Park have changed a lot over the last 15 years, but as it’s taken the form of working-class lefties being replaced by professional-class lefties its political impact is modest (other than to increase the Green vote). The demographic mix that now exists there probably would have produced a Liberal seat in the 1970s or 1980s, but not now. Nor is the Jewish vote a major factor in the way it is in Melbourne Ports, as the suburbs with large Jewish populations are beyond the state seat’s boundaries (mostly in Caulfield). It’s a seat that the Liberals might pinch in a once-a-generation landslide, but I can’t see it being a bellwether seat in the foreseeable future.

By: feral sparrowhawk

feral sparrowhawk — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 05:59:50 +0000

Anyone heard anything about a date – is the government stalling?

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 03:36:19 +0000

I also think they’d be very unwise to actually direct resources into this campaign and risk distracting themselves from the di Natale Senate campaign.

By: Tom

Tom — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 13:43:19 +0000

I think that Albert Park is in comparision more winnable for the Greens at this by-election because of the higher non-Labor vote. (I`m not commenting on the actual winnablity)

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 05:08:34 +0000

I don’t really think the Liberals stood a chance in Albert Park. I’m just not seeing the levels of discontent with the government that would be necessary to see a seat like that swing. As such, I think the Liberals probably decided that it was better to pool their resources for a defence of Corangamite (where they are definitely worried, as the Liberal incumbent is really going out and campaigning for the first time in his career) and LaTrobe and a direct attack on Melbourne Ports at the federal election.

This said, it will make the Albert Park by-election a pretty dull affair. I’m not buying talk of the Greens presenting a challenge – Albert Park is one of those seats where the Greens do well, but will not have a serious prospect of victory unless Melbourne goes first, thus giving the Greens a footing in the Assembly.

By: Chris C

Chris C — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 05:49:11 +0000

According to today’s Herald Sun, the Libs will not be contesting Albert park. While it pleases this lefty, as the Greens are likely to stand a better chance, I can’t help but think it is a stupid move by the Victorian Liberals. By fighting hard in the seat, they would have had a good chance of winning it, as well as putting pressure on sitting federal Melbourne Ports member Micheal Danby, who holds the seat by only 3.5%.

By: feral sparrowhawk

feral sparrowhawk — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 04:53:41 +0000

Albert Park is moving demographically towards the Liberals, and the next redistribution may also see the boundaries shift as well. In other words it will soon be one of the seats they are going to need to win if they are to gain government. To fail to contest is cowardice of the most astonishing proportions. If it is true they are not running it effectively says they are not interested in winning government at state level.