34 Results

All the politics writers have been trying to draw implications for the federal election from the Bradfield and Higgins byelections. But in safe Liberal seats with no Labor candidates, the obvious happened, writes Antony Green.

Political commentators like Robert Manne, Malcolm Mackerras and Judith Brett all predicted doom and gloom for the Libs in the weekend’s by-elections, gloats Gerard Henderson. Boy are their faces red now.

The Australian’s commentators were out in force this morning to announce the return of the Abbott through the city gates — shouting heahs and hosannas, with Dennis Shanahan back in his happy place.

From Saturday’s by-election results, it appears that much of the damage from the Liberal Party’s switch on climate change looks likely to be concentrated where it can’t do them much harm.

Electing Tony Abbott as leader was a huge gamble for the Libs, but it’s paid off, with solid wins in the weekend’s by-elections, and some promising new polling figures out today suggesting voters are returning back to the Coalition, says Dennis Shanahan.

Swings, misses and the mystery of Toork West: relive the Bradfield and Higgins by-elections, as they happened, with ABC wonk-in-residence, Antony Green

The Liberal Party easily retained the seats of Bradfield and Higgins in the weekend’s Federal by-elections. Relive all the thrills and spills with Poll Bludger William Bowe.

From the One Nation candidate to the Australian Sex Party and nine Christian Democrats, the real question for Bradfield by-election voter Pete Malicki is which of the 22 candidates should be put last?

With two key by-elections tomorrow, Antony Green dissects how the Greens will fare against the incumbent Liberals, with no Labor candidates standing. If they go to preferences, can Clive Hamilton snatch Higgins for the Greens?

If the Liberal leadership vote was held at the end of next week — after the Bradfield and Higgins byelections — rather than today, the result would almost certainly have been 44/42 in favour of Turnbull, says Possum Comitatus.

Fred Nile has sent out a survey to voters in Bradfield, asking whether they support or oppose statements like “Jesus Christ is the Son of God” an “Australia needs a ten-year moratorium on Muslim immigration”.

The Bradfield preselection, won by Paul Fletcher, showed a strong field of NSW Liberal contenders. Can it help spark a renewal in the state branch? wonders Michelle Grattan.

A hard won battle has Paul Fletcher named as the Liberal candidate for Bradfield, a far cry from branch stacking and factional messes of preselections past.

The race for Bradfield preselection has become a mini election campaign, says Alison Carabine, with no expenses spared by Liberal hopefuls. Former Davis Cup player John Alexander even offered tennis games with his mate Ken Rosewall.

17 candidates are lining up for tomorrow’s preselection battle over NSW’s safest Liberal seat. Apparent frontrunner Paul Fletcher has more than 40 high-profile endorsements; rival David Coleman is backed by James Packer.

All 20 candidates in this Saturday’s Bradfield preselection must be pondering one major question: exactly what do local Liberal Party preselectors in a safe seat look for in a candidate?

At this Saturday’s Bradfield preselection at the Hornsby RSL, one of the front runners will be a conservative who also happens to be openly gay, although Irfan Yusuf doubts that he’ll be wearing a skivvy.

Malcolm Turnbull now has the power to hand pick MP candidates, which will keep messy NSW factions in line. The Liberals are starting to look electable again, writes Glenn Milne.

After Arthur Sinodinos handed him out some career advice last week, Peter Costello has returned the favour, with the suggestion that Sinodinos should run for John Howard’s old seat of Bennelong.

Crikey readers weigh in on John Della Bosca’s sex scandal and messy NSW politics, Tim Holding’s Monty Pythoneseque ordeal and Dr Brendan Nelson’s diagnosis.

Byelections can no longer be guaranteed to record good results for Opposition parties. So how will the Bradfield byelection play out? If the Liberal share is less than 58%, it’ll be bad news for Malcolm Turnbull.

The Bradfield byelection is an opportunity for the Opposition to rebuild their power. This is the chance for young, smart conservatives to come forth to the Liberal party, says Gerard Henderson.