CHALLENGER Vivienne Gale has framed her campaign in the race for Mersey largely on what she is not. The Launceston small business manager caught many off-guard when she emerged as a last-minute contender for the North-West seat. In the fortnight since, Ms Gale’s approach has been abundantly clear – presenting herself as a vastly different offering from incumbent Mike Gaffney. Ms Gale immediately proclaimed that she would not to be distracted by ‘‘trendy-left’’ issues should she be elected to the upper house. She singled out her support for the Tasmanian forest industry and opposition to same-sex marriage. These two hot-button issues seem to place her poles apart from Mr Gaffney, who voted for same-sex marriage and the now defunct forestry peace deal. Ms Gale has since fixed the spotlight on Mr Gaffney’s left-leaning voting record, pointing to analysis by polling analyst Kevin Bonham. Dr Bonham’s figures show the sitting member has voted along Labor lines more than 80 per cent of the time. In a curious twist, Rumney independent MLC Tony Mulder has thrown his support behind Ms Gale’s bid. Mr Mulder, an ‘‘independent Liberal’’, is helping Ms Gale on the basis that Mr Gaffney allegedly votes against the state government too often. Mr Gaffney, a former Labor candidate who resigned from the party before joining the upper house, appears publicly unperturbed by his colleague’s involvement. Mr Gaffney’s own campaign has been relatively low-key, anchored largely on a focus of his community ties and connection to the area. His public profile is probably the single biggest challenge facing Ms Gale. She does not live in the electorate, and has given herself little time to build her recognition among voters. Next Saturday’s result will prove an interesting gauge of two key issues: firstly, how much weight electors give to an MLC’s voting record versus their work in the local community; and secondly, how much backlash there may be against a purported ‘‘Labor sympathiser’’, in light of the huge swing against the party in the North-West at last year’s state election.
CHALLENGER Vivienne Gale has framed her campaign in the race for Mersey largely on what she is not.
The Launceston small business manager caught many off-guard when she emerged as a last-minute contender for the North-West seat.
In the fortnight since, Ms Gale’s approach has been abundantly clear – presenting herself as a vastly different offering from incumbent Mike Gaffney.
Ms Gale immediately proclaimed that she would not to be distracted by ‘‘trendy-left’’ issues should she be elected to the upper house.
She singled out her support for the Tasmanian forest industry and opposition to same-sex marriage.
These two hot-button issues seem to place her poles apart from Mr Gaffney, who voted for same-sex marriage and the now defunct forestry peace deal.
Ms Gale has since fixed the spotlight on Mr Gaffney’s left-leaning voting record, pointing to analysis by polling analyst Kevin Bonham.
Dr Bonham’s figures show the sitting member has voted along Labor lines more than 80 per cent of the time.
In a curious twist, Rumney independent MLC Tony Mulder has thrown his support behind Ms Gale’s bid.
Mr Mulder, an ‘‘independent Liberal’’, is helping Ms Gale on the basis that Mr Gaffney allegedly votes against the state government too often.
Mr Gaffney, a former Labor candidate who resigned from the party before joining the upper house, appears publicly unperturbed by his colleague’s involvement.
Mr Gaffney’s own campaign has been relatively low-key, anchored largely on a focus of his community ties and connection to the area.
His public profile is probably the single biggest challenge facing Ms Gale.
She does not live in the electorate, and has given herself little time to build her recognition among voters.
Next Saturday’s result will prove an interesting gauge of two key issues: firstly, how much weight electors give to an MLC’s voting record versus their work in the local community; and secondly, how much backlash there may be against a purported ‘‘Labor sympathiser’’, in light of the huge swing against the party in the North-West at last year’s state election.
