Federal seat of Greenway is Labor’s litmus test for the 2013 Federal Election
Staff Writer
The Daily Telegraph
February 01, 201311:00PM
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Voters head to the polls in Greenway in 2010. Picture: Simon Bullard Source: The Sunday Telegraph
GREENWAY in Sydney’s northwest is the canary in the mine shaft for Labor.
Party polling shows its chances are already dead in the electorate with the tightest margin – 0.88 per cent.
Without it the Liberal Party does not think Tony Abbott can win the election but internal problems which have left the Libs without a candidate could yet breathe new life into a dead bird for Labor.
Internal polling shows “Greenway is gone”, according to a Labor figure.
Greenway, taking in suburbs such as Seven Hills and Lalor Park, was held by Labor for 20 years until it was won in 2004 by Liberal MP Louise Markus, who now represents neighbouring Macquarie.
It was reclaimed for Labor by Michelle Rowland at the 2010 election.
The Liberal Party state executive was expected to meet last night to finalise a preselection date, possibly in March.
It is expected the party will preselect Jaymes Diaz, who is not Mr Abbott’s preferred candidate after he missed out on winning the seat in 2010.
Most Greenway voters yesterday said they were unimpressed by either of the major party leaders and were undecided about who they would back. Not one person The Daily Telegraph spoke to knew their federal MP.
The biggest issues for local residents include high unemployment, a lack of services for youths, transport and education.