Wannon’s Labor candidate Michael Barling was upbeat about his chances at this Saturday’s election despite Liberal candidate Dan Tehan winning the 2013 election with a 10 per cent margin.
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“We're in this fight to win it and we want to make Wannon matter,” he said.
“People talk about being marginal or whatever else, but I'm not interested in making this seat marginal - I'm interested in winning it for the Labor Party.”
Mr Barling said he had found people across the electorate generous with their time.
“They won’t necessarily vote for you, but they welcome the chance to interact with you,” he said.
Liberal candidate, incumbent Dan Tehan, said the campaign had differed from the one leading up to the 2013 federal election.
He said this time it had been important to reassure people that the Federal Government remained focused on issues and matters important to them.
“This election is important and Australia needs stability given what is occurring internationally,” he said.
“I would just ask people to really consider their vote upon entering the polling booth.”
Greens candidate Thomas Campbell said he had covered an enormous amount of ground across the south-west after also standing at the state election in 2014 and the state byelection last year.
He said people’s interest in the Greens had been growing, and the local branch had extra members join up when Tony Abbott was elected as Prime Minister.
“It’s interesting seeing how people seem to get more ramped-up over federal elections,” Mr Campbell said.
“I’ve had far more people contacting me via social media, my phone and email asking about issues and finding out what’s important.”
Independent candidate Michael McCluskey said social media had been an important tool to help him gain exposure throughout his first federal election campaign.
He said the Brexit vote in the UK had shown that people were feeling a greater sense of empowerment and were turning away from being told what to think by big political parties.
Independent Bernardine Atkinson said she had found the experience of the campaign “very humbling”, and said there was a wealth of passion and innovation in Wannon waiting to be tapped into.
People talk about being marginal or whatever else, but I'm not interested in making this seat marginal - I'm interested in winning it for the Labor Party.
- Michael Barling