“I have learnt many lessons from him from his service and leadership”.
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The defeated Labor candidate in Canning, Matt Keogh, buoyed by the increased party vote anyway, got a huge cheer when he told campaign workers: “We did get rid of Tony Abbott“.
However, he warned on Sunday that the Liberals’ conservative wing would need to be given a voice under Mr Turnbull’s leadership if the party wanted to remain unified.
The Liberals’ dumping of Tony Abbott in favour of Malcolm Turnbull appears to have helped contain the swing to give the government an easy win in the Canning byelection.
As a result, the swing to Labor should reduce somewhat as these postals are counted, and I expect the final swing to Labor to be about 6.5%.
‘His (Keogh’s) campaign has helped bring down a first-term prime minister, ‘ he said.
Mr Hastie said tackling ice in the community would be his primary focus as a local member.
Voting has begun in the West Australian electorate of Canning.
Despite his impressive CV as Liberal National Party campaign director in Queensland – which delivered a landslide to Campbell Newman in 2012 – and stints working as a gun for hire overseas including for London Mayor Boris Johnson, the extremely private Senator McGrath flew below the radar in his first 12 months in Canberra.
Deputy Prime Minister Julie Bishop on the campaign trail in the electorate of Canning.
“One of my favourite memories was watching the Foreign Minister jump from a truck in heels and land upright”, he said.
Mr Hastie told reporters after Mr Turnbull’s victory that he supported the new leader and did not think the leadership turmoil would have an impact on his election chances.
ABC News 24 declared Mr Hastie the victor just after 8pm, with Mr Keogh conceding defeat at 8.20pm.
Betting agency Sportsbet paid out in advance on Thursday for a Hastie victory in the election.
Mr Keogh said his “drive to stand up for our area is greater than it’s ever been – and will continue”.
Labor had set up placards at polling booths throughout the south-eastern suburbs with Ms Bishop and former PM Tony Abbott embracing with the words “Loyalty” splashed across them.
Labor leader Bill Shorten said late on Saturday that Canning had become a marginal seat and the Liberals had “sacrificed” Mr Abbott.
He walked into the room to the sounds of applause.
Mr Hastie dismissed the significance of Monday’s dramatic federal leadership spill to the by-election.
A pair of elderly women said they “would be glad when this is over” and another woman said she had thought about not voting and “just copping a fine”.
His tasks included leading sensitive strategic operations in Afghanistan in 2012-2013, where he worked alongside Afghan partner forces and conducted strike missions against the Taliban.
“It’s very upsetting. For me the issues at the moment are jobs”.
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Second was drug-related crime in the south metropolitan area.
