Oakshott declares victory in Lyne by-election
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The independent Robert Oakshott has declared victory in the by-election for the federal seat of Lyne on the New South Wales mid-north coast.
Lynne was a signature Nationals seat - the party has held it since it was created in 1949 and its previous sitting member was former deputy prime minister Mark Vaile.
But the Nationals-turned-independent state MP Rob Oakshott has stormed home in today's by-election with 64 per cent of the primary vote.
In a boisterous speech to cheering supporters, Mr Oakshott promised to be a fearless advocate for the community.
He has also said he has been vindicated for running a positive campaign.
"And if you see the votes, it just proves the point that negative advertising does not work," he said.
The loss is a serious blow to the Nationals.
They are reduced to just nine seats in the federal Lower House.
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Comments (48)
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Andrew:
06 Sep 2008 8:44:14pm
Well done Rob
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trevor:
06 Sep 2008 8:49:37pm
74 per cent is the kind of figure most politicians dream about. Admittedly it would have been affected by the absence of an ALP candidate, but it's still a stunning result.
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Greg H:
06 Sep 2008 9:48:07pm
A big win for the independent.
But what have they ever achieved in the lower house?
Like Peter Windsor it sounds good on paper, in terms of actual achievements for the electorate independents fall short.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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bb:
06 Sep 2008 10:19:28pm
Rob's record in State politics for the seat of Port Macquarie speaks for itself.
He was able to get more funding from the state Labor govt than any of the surrounding National Party Seats
The answer is independents can acheive a great deal in the lower house. Furthermore independents are not beholden to towing the party line - they are directly accountable to their constituants and therefore more motivated to do whats best for the community rather than worrying about what the party policy is (which may not always be in the best interests of the community)
We need more independents.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Gary W:
06 Sep 2008 11:01:14pm
You might be thinking of Tony Andren; there are getting to be so many independents, I understand it's hard for you to tell them apart.
Andren must have done something right; he had the second-safest seat in the country. His opposition to the theft of Telstra helped to ensure that at least a part of it was retained by the people who paid for it, the taxpayers of Australia. His position on the detention issue put him at odds with many people, including his electorate, but he had so much integrity that he became the conscience of the parliament (with Kerry Nettle), vindicated by the new government. And all three of the rural independents have made enough noise to demonstrate that "Australia" doesn't mean "Melbourne, Sydney, and Canberra".
A big win for all of us (except the rusted-on partisan fanatics). Should be more of it.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Energystar:
06 Sep 2008 11:33:24pm
Greg H & Gary W: You both have the names the wrong way - Tony Windsor - current Federal member for New England & the late Peter Andren, former Federal Member for Calare.
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Gary W:
07 Sep 2008 12:19:53am
Don't mind me, I'm pulling his leg (I referred to Peter Andren further down the page).
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Greg h:
06 Sep 2008 11:36:31pm
I meant Tony Windsor , what did he acheive for New England?
The late Peter Andren may be a principled politician, did he stop the telstra sale, restore phone services in the bush etc?
It may be hip to go for independents in coastal areas but the Independents are not part of the main govt or opposition and unless there is a hung parlliament they will be pretty much useless and achieve less for their electorate.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Energystar:
07 Sep 2008 12:07:50am
Greg H: You might have to ask the people of New England what they think of Tony Windsor - they keep on voting for him - not only now but when he was the State Member for Tamworth from 1991. Interesting he was a former member of the National Party but got voted in as an Independant. And Peter Andren - the voters of Calare just kept on voting for him as well. Perhaps some of the voters of these electorates might want to post a comment.
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janette Grunsell:
06 Sep 2008 8:55:07pm
This was such a negative campaign. Rob only ever stated his policies and achievements. He was not interested in mud slinging. He deserved to win on integrity alone.
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Helen:
06 Sep 2008 8:57:15pm
How wonderful is this result for our electorate. As I handed out "how to votes" today the general vibe was one of support and acknowledgement for Rob and of Rob's integrity. The Nats have lost over half of their vote and the people here are overwhelmingly tired of being represented as a safe seat. So move over good 'ol boys and let the change begin!!!! Well done to a perfect gentleman!!!!!!
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Bruce King Creek:
06 Sep 2008 8:59:39pm
Congrautalations to Rob, show the Nats that they are a really spent partyand Independents are the members of the future to achieve community goals instead of party imposed "this is what you going to have" party goals
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Craig:
06 Sep 2008 9:03:48pm
Thank Goodness!
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bb:
06 Sep 2008 9:07:57pm
Well done and congrats Rob!!!
Finally Lyne without a National. Good to see the deserved result. Rob fought the good fight and stood on his record in state politics. Not resorting to dirty tricks/scare campaign by Nationals. Rob Drew was a poor choice of candidate for them.
Keep up the good work Rob & you'll always get my vote (As you always have as an independent)
A great result. Couldn't have gone to a better bloke.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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geoffr:
06 Sep 2008 9:16:21pm
Well done Rob - it's a result that's good for us all!!
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ADELE:
06 Sep 2008 9:20:06pm
THE BEST MAN WON . WELL DONE ROB
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Suze:
06 Sep 2008 9:20:41pm
Rob Drew & The Nationals asked people to send a message to Canberra in this election - we sure did! - only it wasn't the message that they expected.
The message was that the LIB/NAT should not recycle their failed and shop soiled ex local government representatives on us. We deserved better.
I think we have that in Rob Oakshott
I wanted to vote Labor, but Sussex Street disenfranchised me. I voted Green but I am pleased that Oakshott won and I congratulate him. I hope he will work with the Rudd Labor Government to restore the balance between a healthy economy and healthy society.Agree (1) Alert moderator
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Jenny:
06 Sep 2008 9:33:24pm
Whooohooo & congrats to Rob O on a positive campaign!
This is a great victory for the people of a large chunk of the mid north coast of NSW which has for too long been taken for granted as Nats heartland.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Gary W:
06 Sep 2008 9:36:26pm
i don't know the bloke, but I'm very happy to congratulate him. If only this was the death knell for the cosy duopoly! I wish there were another 100 independents in the House. We'll all be better off if Rob Oakeshott can fill the shoes of Peter Andren, a man of vast common sense and integrity. More than all the worthless hacks from the obsolete parties. I hope to see Rob getting under their skin.
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Adrian Dunlop:
06 Sep 2008 10:20:52pm
Believe me Gary . Rob Oakshot is the real deal and a very similar member to the late Peter Andren with all his qualities. As a state member for Port MacQuarie he was very popular and we expect the same in Canberra. The Nationals candidate was a dead man walking when preselected but they couldn't see it, they tried to win with a smear campaign and buckets of money. The electors of Lyne totally rejected the Nats.
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Andrew:
06 Sep 2008 9:52:35pm
What a joke. The last thing the national Parliament needs is another independent. It sounds like he is a person of integrity - but that will not translate to any results. Because his vote is not important to either major party he will sit on the cross benches and achieve nothing. He will not get the same access to Ministers as he would if he were a party representative. Nor will he have any influence at all when it comes to attracting funding for Lyne. He will get a question in the House about once a month and that will be it - just like Tony Windsor he will be a waste of space. We have a two party system in this country because it works. Don't waste your vote on independents.
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Bring in the new regime:
06 Sep 2008 10:01:58pm
The two party monopoly has practically destoyed this country and anybody that doesn't see that this is just a pathetic self vested Lab/Lab apologist.
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Willow:
06 Sep 2008 10:05:32pm
Change is made by a step in the right direction, even when the road to change is one of many steps. So a step forward is ten times better than a step back, is it not?
not only that, but this is a win for justice and truth.
Good on you Rob - the next step is to send the same message at the State election. Independants - OF the people, FOR the people.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Paul:
06 Sep 2008 10:07:45pm
The domination of the two major parties is what is causing all the problems in this country. Two almost identical parties, no new ideas, continual stagnation. I'm glad to see an independent in the parliament, and it will certainly do their electorate plenty of good, as the government (and the opposition) will give them plenty of attention in the future.
But don't fool yourself that a "two party system" works. It's a dismal failure, and our terrible lower-house electoral system should be tossed out in favour of a much better proportional representation system like New Zealands. Then the 25-ish% of the Australian population who don't vote for a major party would no longer be disenfranchised.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Andrew:
06 Sep 2008 10:19:59pm
"practically destoyed (sic) this country"...."causing all the problems in this country"..?
Are you for real? Destroyed? Perhaps you should head off to Zimbabwe and check out what that word means before you launch into your ridiculous hyperbole.
And what are "all these problems"? 15 years of continuous economic growth? Record low unemployment? Electoral stability that is the envy of most of the world? And anyone who thinks that bizarre electoral systems (like Hare-Clark for example) produce better governments only needs to look at Tasmania and the ACT to realise that's so wide of the mark it isn't funny.
I say again - it has nothing to do with the quality or otherwise of the candidates, and everything to do with stability and consistency of decision making. If you want Canberra run like a big local council (and gee, they all work really well, don't they) then keep voting for independents.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Paul:
06 Sep 2008 10:37:22pm
"15 years of continuous economic growth"
You mean, 15 years of increasing profits for big business, while the proportion of people living in poverty has skyrocketed. As have inflation and interest rates (until this week, finally starting to undo some of John Howard's damage to the economy).
But yes, I guess if you look it from the point of view of CEOs on salaries of multiple millions of dollars, then the two party dominance has done considerable good.Agree (1) Alert moderator
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Paul:
06 Sep 2008 10:43:18pm
And as for your "bizarre systems of government" slur; almost every continental European country uses proportional representation, including some major powers with very stable governments: France and Germany. Also The Netherlands, Sweden , Denmark, Norway.
There is nothing "bizarre" about proportional representation. It provides a parliament that much more accurately reflects the wishes of voters. Our "winner-takes-all" system is a gerrymander for major parties. It is barely better than not having an election at all.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Mundo:
06 Sep 2008 11:13:53pm
15 years? Fair suck of the sav. Credit where credit is due.
We're now in the 18th consecutive year of growth. You have to go back to PM Hawke to get to the start of it!Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Ajax:
06 Sep 2008 10:26:06pm
Yeah right, Andrew.
Bring on more independants, I say. The more of them, the sooner the ALP & Libs will need to be more consultive.
The major parties have wrecked what the designers of the Constitution envisaged.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Adrian Dunlop:
06 Sep 2008 10:31:22pm
Wake up Andrew! Have a talk to the constituency of "Kennedy" and "New England" !
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Energystar:
06 Sep 2008 11:53:51pm
Andrew: I think you raise an interesting point regarding independants. Most of the major democracies/economies of the world have two-party systems ( USA, UK, Japan etc ) & I don't know how Australia would go being run entirely by groups of Independants. However I think what people are annoyed most about our two-party systems ( or at least I am ) is that the ALP & Liberals are both run & driven by factions plus they have many vested interest groups. An Independant can't afford to be seen as being right wing, left wing, small l, dry, wet or be seen to have associations with vested interest groups. I think in certain electorates, Independants are by far, the best option.
You could say a vote for the ALP or Liberals is more of a waste then voting for an Independant.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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maggie:
06 Sep 2008 10:01:49pm
the time for change from has arrived on the north coast. a well deserved win to a positive campaign
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Vee:
06 Sep 2008 10:07:40pm
Good for him. The federal parliament needs more independents that aren't beholden to some party line put to them by their masters that aren't even members of the parliamentary party.
With the loss of Peter Andren I feel there has been some balance restored to the lower house. It makes little difference at the moment as Labor is still in full control of the lower house but as long as those three are there they can make a real difference for real people.
For a coastal MP, at least he's not going to be a city centric one like those in Sydney, Melbourne where nothing outside the metropolis matters.
Vote in more Independents that genuinely care about representing the actual people.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Jack Garfield:
06 Sep 2008 10:14:23pm
A wonderful result, a real step forward for an electorate that's been in the dark ages for far too long.
In case there's any doubt left, let me add yet another comment in praise of Rob Oakeshott's positive, decent campaign. It was a strong contrast to the Nationals' negative, deceitful tactics.
In response to the gentleman who said Oakeshott won't have "any influence at all when it comes to attracting funding for Lyne," I point out that he can't do any worse than the Nationals, who have achieved precious little for this backwater electorate.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Brian B:
06 Sep 2008 10:15:38pm
A quick look at the WA results demonstrates everything that is wrong with politics in this country when a party that obtains 11% of the votes gains no seats yet a party with less than 4% of the votes gains 3 seats. Proportional representation is the only way to address the failings that have brought our country to its knees.
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Lachlan:
06 Sep 2008 10:22:09pm
Well done Rob,
Why the Nats ever thought people would vote for the mayor of a sacked local council is beyond me.
How could anyone expect someone who can't run a local council be capable of representing our electorate in federal politics?
The win couldn't have gone to a better person. Rob Oakeshott was by far the best candidate and lets hope he continues the good work he has done for Port Macquarie in the federal level for LyneAgree (0) Alert moderator
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Leanne:
06 Sep 2008 10:26:40pm
congratulations Rob on a job well done. The voters of Lyne are not stupid, its a shame the nationals thought we were. Their choice of candidate and below the belt election campaign have got what they deserved!! You have always had the respect of the people of this electorate Rob and that can only be further enhanced by the way you have conducted yourself throughout the campaign keeping well away from the gutter tactics of the nationals. Congratulations once again and good luck for your new position
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Barry:
06 Sep 2008 10:39:31pm
Whilst I congradulate the new member for Lyne it would seem that unless the current situation changes and either party becomes a minirity government this is basicly pointless. Whilst the member will get to make lots of sound bites for the local press and sit on minor committes he will be totally ignored by the government. He can vote his conscience all he likes. Unless the government fails to have enough bums on seats during a vote, this will achieve absolutely nothing.
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Shergy:
06 Sep 2008 10:40:17pm
Well, we voted him in. But, honestly, was Bob Drew the best they could dredge up? Now, Rob Oakeshott does not have years of local goodwill behind him, so if he stuffs up, there will be no hesitation in dumping him next time round.
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Chris:
06 Sep 2008 10:52:26pm
good work rob great party tonight your a great bloke. he just obliterated rob drews ego lol!
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S B Reynolds:
06 Sep 2008 11:13:04pm
A sad day for Lyne.
May the Nats win this seat back at the next election so the people of Lyne have a voice in the next federal GovernmentAgree (0) Alert moderator
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bb:
06 Sep 2008 11:26:03pm
Actually what a happy day for Lyne.
The sad thing would have been if the Nats would have won. Drew was a very poor candidate and deserved to lose. Failed and sacked mayor who played personal politics with Rob Oakeshott and it backfired dramatically.
The Nats have always taken this seat for granted and have never given us any voice in the Federal Parliament.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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martinl:
06 Sep 2008 11:34:13pm
Well SB Reynolds, the majority of Lyne don't agree with you that its a sad day......otherwise the National candidate would be celebrating right now wouldn't he? Thanks be to God, we have democracy in this country!
Well done Rob. We think you're a champion. Our family has had reason to call on your support on several occasions over the past decade - you've always had the time to clarify issues and advocate strongly for us. We've seen you at many local events and you are always approachable. We think you are a man of integrity and commitment, and will do a fine job for the people of Lyne.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Gary W:
07 Sep 2008 12:05:19am
Ha ha, dream on! The reason Oakeshott won was that he had the integrity and the nous to dump the Nats, just like his electorate. The Nats are finished.
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Jack Garfield:
07 Sep 2008 12:18:25am
Sorry to have to break this to you, S B Reynolds, but the National party hasn't governed this country since 1968 (and that was for a two week period). And barring a military coup, they won't be governing the country at the next election. The best they could hope for is to be a bit player in a coalition government; as it is now they're too irrelevant to even be considered enemies of the Labor government.
We're best off with a rep who doesn't have to toe a party line. Being independent doesn't seem to have prevented Oakeshott from doing an amazing job at State level.
As bb said, it would have been a "sad day" if the Nationals' candidate had been mindlessly elected yet again.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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diane:
06 Sep 2008 11:42:02pm
congrats rob on a stunning victory. your star is shining brightly and we are lucky to have you in canberra. go independants.
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Steve:
07 Sep 2008 12:07:55am
I live in Port Macquarie, and I've become disappointed in Rob Oakeshott - he seems more interested in being popular with interest groups (and maintaining resentment to the Nationals) than a strategic approach working with different groups for the big picture.
And for me the Nationals were behind because I resent Mark Vaile spitting the dummy when he was no longer part of the government - he run last November to represent us for 3 years, and didn't like being in opposition - gee, that's part of what can happen!Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Grahan:
07 Sep 2008 12:37:17am
Well done Rob Thank god we got rid Mark Vaile after all this time.Your got a lot off work to do now on our roads & hospitals.
Good Luck.Agree (0) Alert moderator
