Liberal Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said there were “clear mistakes” and “process breakdowns” in the preselection of Deves. Speaking after the result became apparent,Birmingham said the Liberals had “paid a price in Warringah”.
“There are lessons to be learnt,as I’ve indicated,and I expect wherever we go,hopefully still into government,we have to heed those messages.”
Abbott,who introduced Deves at the function,took a different view. “She hasn’t failed,and frankly I don’t believe this Liberal Party has failed either,” he said.The Liberal Party,Abbott said,was best on climate change when it was approached as an economic issue despite Steggall’s success campaigning on the topic.
“I think it’s very important that we have an effective policy on climate change,but we should not put trying to stop the temperature going up a couple of degrees in a couple of decades ahead of protecting people’s jobs,protecting people’s standard of living,protecting our domestic industries in the here and now,” Mr Abbott said.
Despite the terse campaign and national focus on Deves,the voters thatThe Sydney Morning HeraldandThe Agespoke to were more concerned with issues like the climate change.
“Times are changing,” said small businessman James Caputo,38,after voting on Saturday morning. “There’s a new generation looking forward for which climate change is a big factor.”
Steggall denied on Saturday that her supporters had pulled down Deves signs ahead of polling day as photos emerged of Liberal signage discarded on the ground.
A spokesman for Deves’ campaign quoted the Latin legal saying “res ipsa loquitur”,which means “the thing speaks for itself”,when asked who was responsible. He said that in thelast election Steggall’s supporters were “infamously tearing down our materials”.
But Steggall said her supporters were not responsible. “Everyone in my team signs to three P’s:to be polite,positive and prepared,” Steggall said. “There’s always going to be ... those kind of allegations,but no,I’m very confident that it’s got nothing to do with my team.”
Steggall was greeted like a small scale rock star when she cast her vote earlier in the day at Balgowlah North Public School,which her children once attended. Luci Volpe,6,was thrilled to meet the local member whose electric campaign bus he adores.
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