Vic: Liberals in terrible trouble : political scientist

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-1999
Vic: Liberals in terrible trouble : political scientist

By Simon Johanson.

MELBOURNE, Dec 12 AAP - The Burwood by-election result gives significant legitimacy
to the Bracks Labor government, and shows the Liberals are in "terrible trouble", a political
scientist said today.

Dr Nick Economou, senior lecturer in politics at Monash University and co-author of
a book on the Kennett years, said the result ensured the Labor Party was not a "government
by default".

Voters yesterday delivered former premier Jeff Kennett's seat of Burwood to ALP candidate
Bob Stensholt (PRON: Stenz-holt) with a swing of 10.25 per cent.

Mr Stensholt snatched the seat from the Liberal candidate, Lana McLean, after the eastern
Melbourne electorate had been held by Mr Kennett for 23 years.

Dr Economou said the result spelt trouble for Liberal Party state director Peter Poggioli
and showed that the clean sweep of the Liberals' shadow cabinet had been a mistake.

The result would impact heavily on the party, Dr Economou, co-author with Brian Costar
of The Kennett Revolution, said.

"I think they're in terrible trouble. After the last election they (Liberals) went
through an incredible internal purge.

"With the benefit of hindsight, that was a very foolish thing to do because now they've
got an inexperienced party room."

Mr Economou said Liberal leader Denis Napthine was unlikely to be replaced as party
leader, but Dr Poggioli was in trouble.

"I think Dr Poggioli has got more to worry about than Napthine. This is yet another
failure - how many more can the Liberals tolerate?" he said.

Dr Economou said the result was "amazing". It altered the balance of power in the lower
house, strengthened the government's hand, and gave it more moral authority to govern.

"After the general election, there was a lot of talk that voters hadn't intended Labor
to come to power.

"The two supplementary elections we have had since - both with swings of up to 10 per
cent - help reinforce the notion that Labor is in government, and that it is not some
sort of government by default.

"Burwood has never been held by Labor before and it's in the strategically important
eastern suburbs. The result helps legitimise the Bracks government," he said.

AAP sj/er/sub

KEYWORD: BURWOOD ACADEMIC

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