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Johnston has high hopes of good result

Staff ReporterSouthern Gazette

Friday was the last day postal votes could be received by the AEC for the election re-run held on April 5.

Federal Defence Minister Johnston said last week it was too early to comment on the sixth senate spot with final results pending.

‘We are hopeful our third candidate, Linda Reynolds, who was elected fair and square last September and who is an outstanding Western Australian, is successful,’ he said.

He said the Liberals were expecting a swing away from them during what was effectively a by-election.

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‘The result wasn’t going to change the government and so minor parties tend to do well in this kind of election. The worst result was for Labor, who had a swing away from them even from opposition and a primary vote in the very low 200s.

‘The Federal Government would work with the independents and minor parties including the Palmer United Party in the Senate post July so our legislative program, that we took to the voters last September, can be passed ” issues effecting WA like the mining tax, which is an anti-WA tax.’

He said voters knew the difference between state and federal politics and the swing against the Federal Government and an increase in Green polling could not be attributed to the State Government’s shark culling.