Pittwater Online News

May 19 - 25, 2019: Issue 405

Jason Falinski Wins Second Term As Member For Mackellar - Independent Zali Stegall Secures Seat Of Warringah

'If you are my voice today, then I will be your voice in Canberra for the next three years.' - Jason Falinski social media post, May 18th, 2019, with the above phtoograph.

Mr Falinski, as has become the custom for campaigning politicians during an election, posted a message of thanks to his supporters on social media last evening:

"Thank you to the people of Mackellar for endorsing our message of a stronger economy, lower taxes, securing retirement, improving lifestyle and practical action on climate change. Locally, we have increased our primary vote with swings of 9.7% in Dee Why and 8% in Narraweena.

Thank you to my family and my volunteers for all of your hard work." Mr. Falinski said

The Mackellar figures as we go to press (79.2% counted):

First preference Vote 
Liberal Party
Jason Falinski (MP) Vote:53.1% 44,394  Swing +1.9%
Labor Party
Declan Steele Vote: 16.8% 14,032 Swing -0.5%
Independent
Alice Thompson Vote:12.9% 10,815 Swing +12.9%
Greens
Pru Wawn  Vote:11.1% 9,295 Swing -2.9%
Sustainable Australia
Suzanne Daly Vote:2.4% 2,043 Swing +2.4%
United Australia
David Lyon Vote: 2.3% 1,919 Swing +2.3%
Christian Democratic Party
Greg Levett Vote: 1.4% 1,151 Swing -1.2%

Preference count     
Liberal Party
Jason Falinski (MP)  Vote: 63.2%  52,887 Swing -2.5%
Labor Party
Declan Steele Vote: 36.8%  30,762 Swing +2.5%

In Warringah Zali Steggall, Independent Candidate, has secured the federal seat after campaigning on addressing Climate Change and recognises that, as stated on her Environment policy webpage, Australia has; 

'Loss of more biodiversity than any other continent, with 1700 threatened species, the developed world’s only deforestation hotspot, Half the Great Barrier Reef’s coral has died since 2016, we have lost 90% of Murray-Darling wetlands and 75% of on the Swan Coastal wetlands in WA, other countries have stopped accepting our recycling, plastic is devastating our marine environments, and invasive species and pollution threaten our local environments, including Warringah’s endangered species such as the little penguin'

Ms Stegall also said in a February 2019 interview with Guardian Australia’s political podcast, that the Adani coal mine, the kick off of many coal mine project aspirants for the Galilee Basin, needed to be stopped; 

"Labor, if it wins this year’s federal contest, needed to use whatever regulatory powers it had available to it to stop the project. “We need an orderly retirement of coal, I don’t think we should be entering new projects,” Ms Steggall said.

“The attention should be with renewables, technology, clean transport, clean energy – not projects like Adani.”

The numbers in Warringah votes (78.2% counted);

First preference  
Independent
Zali Steggall Vote:44.7% 34,961 Swing +44.7%
Liberal Party
Tony Abbott (MP) Vote: 38.9% 30,458 -12.7%

The Labour candidate also had a swing of -8.6% as did the Greens candidate of -6.5%.

Preference count
Independent
Zali Steggall Vote: 57.8% 45,198 Swing: +18.9%
Liberal Party
Tony Abbott (MP) Vote: 42.2% 33,055 Swing: -18.9%

Mr. Abbott was first elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Warringah in 1994 and so has served the electorate for 25 years. Prior to Mr. Abbott Liberal Member Michael MacKellar served as MP for Warringah for 25 years.

Ms Steggall also thanked her supporters via social media late last evening, stating;

"We did it! Thank you Warringah."

Zali Steggall stated as far back as January that she will seek to form a united front with other independents if elected. South of the border another lady has won a seat as an independent. Helen Haines in the northern Victorian seat of Indi, has made history by becoming the first independent to succeed another in federal parliament, replacing Cathy McGowan. Dr Haines fended off a challenge from Liberal Steve Martin to secure 51.9 per cent of the two-party-preferred vote, with 78 per cent of the result counted at midnight.

Dr Haines is one of seven high-profile independent candidates to sign a joint agreement to cooperate on climate policy in the new parliament should they win. Others to sign the statement included Clark's Andrew Wilkie, Zali Steggall and Wentworth's Kerryn Phelps.

With 72.5% of the Wentworth votes counted by midnight Liberal Party candidate Dave Sharma is ahead 50.6% to Ms Phelps 49.4%.

Senate results so far are Liberal / National Coalition 13 won (33 total seats), Labor Party 12 won (26 total seats) The Greens 6 likely (9 total seats).

Mr. Clive Palmer's 60 million dollar splurge on advertisements and invading our mobiles with text messages (who gave him my number??!) have, at this stage, failed to secure even one seat.

'We did it! Thank you Warringah.' - Zali Steggall's social media message accompanying above photograph.

Rod Waterhouse and Beau White at the completion of their last leg, May 18th US Time, May 19th Sydney time.

Autumn In Pittwater 2019

Avalon Community Garden 

Avalon Community Garden 

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