Labor splashes out millions on high-stakes by-elections

Labor is promising voters in Longman and Braddon $338 million in spending.

Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has played down leadership questions if he loses two by-elections. (AAP)

Labor is splashing cash on the two key seats of Longman and Braddon ahead of the Super Saturday by-elections.

In Queensland's Longman, Labor has promised a total of $155 million dollars compared to the LNP's $45 million.

While in Tasmania's Braddon, Labor has pledged $183 million dollars, ahead of the Liberals $126 million.




In Braddon, that works out to be $4,778 per voter. 

No opposition has lost a by-election to the government in 98 years, but Labor could lose both Braddon and Longman.

It comes as Bill Shorten refused to accept his leadership could be in trouble if he loses the seats less than a year from the next federal election.

"No, I don't. But what I also accept is the voters haven't voted yet," Mr Shorten told reporters in the Tasmanian city of Devonport on Thursday.
SBS
Source: SBS


Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese has been tipped as a potential replacement, but he "absolutely" guaranteed he wouldn't challenge his boss.

"The only thing I'm interested in is being a minister in the Labor government - it will be led by Bill Shorten," Mr Albanese told reporters in Longman.

Meanwhile, new research by the Voter Choice Project shows the Centre Alliance's Rebekha Sharkie could reclaim the seat of Mayo on primary votes alone, without having to go to preferences.
SBS
Source: SBS


About 20 per cent of a panel of voters who initially signalled they would vote Labor have switched to Ms Sharkie, an independent study by researcher Raphaella Kathryn Crosby found.




Labor is set to reclaim the seats of Perth and Fremantle, where no Liberal candidates are standing.

The research found Labor's Susan Lamb was ahead of her LNP rival Trevor Ruthenberg on primary votes in Longman, but minor party preferences would be decisive.

In Braddon, independent candidate Craig Garland has picked up support from voters who initially backed the Liberals' Brett Whiteley, which would help Labor's Justine Keay who is set to receive the lion's share of Mr Garland's preferences.

Follow live coverage of Super Saturday on the SBS News website and the SBS News app on iOS and Android. 


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