WHETHER it was intentional or not, Liberal candidate for Hume Angus Taylor gave his opponents a metaphorical slap in the face this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Taylor, in more select words, said once the Labor Party announced its candidate for Hume, the real campaign could begin.
“I look forward to the entry of a Labor candidate into the field in Hume so that we can have a genuine local debate about the future of our region...,” he said upon Julia Gillard’s election announcement. While the comment is a touch disrespectful to independent James Harker- Mortlock, Christian Democrat Adrian Van Der Byl and the Katter Australia Party’s Bruce Nicholson, it’s on the money.
Labor was surprisingly well supported at the 2011 state election despite standing an out-of-town candidate and suffering a hiding in the polls statewide.
The 2011 election proved that Labor is well supported locally and with a strong candidate could fare better than the 25-1 odds this week offered by Sportsbet suggest. Claims by NSW Labor Country organiser Courtney Roche that a lack of a candidate hasn’t hurt the party’s chances are frankly laughable.
Mr Taylor, a man who has aspirations of one-day becoming Prime Minister and is held in high esteem by his party, has a nine month head start on his main and yet-to-be-confirmed rival.
It’s no surprise then the bookies have him as unbackable favourite to snap up Hume on September 14.
The Labor Party is suffering each day it fails to name a candidate. The clock is ticking, ladies and gentlemen.