Nats show some grit in Gippsland

June 29, 2008, 11:07am,  105 views

The National Party exceeded most expectations to comfortably retain Gippsland at Saturday’s by-election.

The seven percent swing against Labor will cause some headaches for Kevin Rudd and his spin doctors.

Although Labor was never going to win the seat, they would have expected to hold their ground.

Nationals candidate Darren Chester won the two-party preferred vote nearly everywhere and out-polled the Liberals nearly everywhere.

Chester rightly attributed his success to local factors. Not too much should be read into the result for Rudd or Brendan Nelson.

Labor is struggling in its traditional heartland of the Latrobe Valley, which would cause them concern.

The Nats should look at how and why they have done well there. It’s because they’re seen as independent and strong advocates for the region.

Chester’s victory should kill any thought of a merger with the Liberals. It should also make Peter Ryan and Warren Truss think about the wisdom of a coalition in opposition.

The only practical benefit is avoiding expensive three-cornered contests, especially in the Senate and Legislative Council. The parties should go their own ways and strike a deal on seats before an election if necessary.