UPDATED: A support group of relegated Senator Lisa Singh is encouraging Tasmanians to “beat the factional warlords” and vote below the line at the federal election.
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Senator Singh has not been saved by Labor’s national executive, with the committee on Thursday placing her sixth on the party’s ticket.
North West Senator Anne Urquhart got the number one spot, guaranteeing her re-election.
Senator Helen Polley and Carol Brown are also in safe spots, taking out second and third.
Senator Catryna Bilyk has the fourth spot, and unionist John Short has the less-safe fifth spot.
The sixth spot will be virtually impossible for Senator Singh to win, polling experts say.
“Being re-elected would still take something pretty special and historic,” Senator Singh said.
“But I'm very determined to give Tasmanians a real choice about the sort of progressive Labor voice they want in the Senate.
“I’ve been really encouraged by number of Tasmanians saying they plan to vote for me below the line.”
Senator Singh said when it came to refugees, the environment and social justice she had “always sought to speak with conviction instead of political calculation”.
“Politics can be so fleeting and brutal, you have to try to make a difference, or else what’s the point?”
Tony Jacobs, convenor of the Re-Elect Lisa Singh group, said the relegation of Senator Singh and Liberal Senator Richard Colbeck was a challenge to Tasmanians who “care about the quality of their representation”.
“We are confident tens of thousands of Tasmanians will react to the arrogance and ignorance of the faction warlords in both major parties and vote below the line particularly for Lisa singh and Richard Colbeck,” Mr Jacobs said.
