Australia Government Braced For Wentworth By-election Defeat
Australia government braced for Wentworth by-election defeat
By gowidenews 20 October 2018
From our news report reaching us says,
Image caption Liberal Party candidate Dave Sharma faces a strong challenge from independent Kerryn Phelps
People are voting in a by-election in a suburban constituency in Sydney, which could wipe out the government's one-seat parliamentary majority.
PM Scott Morrison's ruling Liberal Party is fighting to hold the affluent seat of Wentworth, vacated by his predecessor Malcolm Turnbull.
Mr Turnbull was ousted by Mr Morrison in an unpopular party coup in August.
Australia has had six prime ministers in eight years and could face further uncertainty if the Liberals lose.
The centre-right party would need to rely on independent MPs to survive confidence votes. Two of the MPs have already vowed not to back Mr Morrison.
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"The events of a couple of months ago would have caused a great deal of anger and outrage here in Wentworth," the prime minister told reporters on Friday, seeming to accept the chance of defeat.
For that to happen, the constituency would have to register the biggest by-election swing against a federal government in Australian history.
But many voters are furious at their former MP's ousting by Mr Morrison, and opinion polls suggest voters could punish the government.
Media captionCan anyone hang on to Australia's top job?
Also controversial in the race is the prime minister's proposal that Australia could follow the US and move its embassy to Jerusalem.
Liberal candidate Dave Sharma is the former Australian ambassador to Israel and first proposed such a move.
Around 13% of Wentworth's voters are Jewish, compared to less than 0.5% of the Australian population as a whole.
Image caption The US moved its embassy to Jerusalem in May
Mr Sharma's independent rival for the seat, Kerryn Phelps, has said any decision on recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital must take into account trade, security and defence considerations.
By gowidenews 20 October 2018
From our news report reaching us says,
Image caption Liberal Party candidate Dave Sharma faces a strong challenge from independent Kerryn Phelps
People are voting in a by-election in a suburban constituency in Sydney, which could wipe out the government's one-seat parliamentary majority.
PM Scott Morrison's ruling Liberal Party is fighting to hold the affluent seat of Wentworth, vacated by his predecessor Malcolm Turnbull.
Mr Turnbull was ousted by Mr Morrison in an unpopular party coup in August.
Australia has had six prime ministers in eight years and could face further uncertainty if the Liberals lose.
The centre-right party would need to rely on independent MPs to survive confidence votes. Two of the MPs have already vowed not to back Mr Morrison.
Malcolm Turnbull ousted in brutal party coup
The rise of Scott Morrison, Australia's new PM
Australians vent about political chaos
"The events of a couple of months ago would have caused a great deal of anger and outrage here in Wentworth," the prime minister told reporters on Friday, seeming to accept the chance of defeat.
For that to happen, the constituency would have to register the biggest by-election swing against a federal government in Australian history.
But many voters are furious at their former MP's ousting by Mr Morrison, and opinion polls suggest voters could punish the government.
Media captionCan anyone hang on to Australia's top job?
Also controversial in the race is the prime minister's proposal that Australia could follow the US and move its embassy to Jerusalem.
Liberal candidate Dave Sharma is the former Australian ambassador to Israel and first proposed such a move.
Around 13% of Wentworth's voters are Jewish, compared to less than 0.5% of the Australian population as a whole.
Image caption The US moved its embassy to Jerusalem in May
Mr Sharma's independent rival for the seat, Kerryn Phelps, has said any decision on recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital must take into account trade, security and defence considerations.
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