Justine Keay, Brett Whiteley reflect on Braddon byelection results

Major party candidates have reflected on a strong result for independents and minor parties at the Braddon byelection.

Labor’s Justine Keay retained the seat of Braddon after an 11-week campaign wrapped up on Saturday.

Her result at the polls had been propped up by preference votes passed on from independent candidate Craig Garland.

On Sunday, Ms Keay said she was thrilled and relieved to return to parliament, after resigning in May over dual citizenship.

“The primary vote went backwards for all the major parties, including the Greens, and that’s because we had a strong independent candidate,” Ms Keay said.

“I think people looked at [Craig Garland as] someone that had something a little bit different to offer and I think we should all learn from him.”

Ms Keay said the Liberal Party ignored Mr Garland during their campaign, and it had proven to be “extremely dangerous”.

She said the byelection had been a “huge referendum” on corporate tax cuts, and would send a clear message to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

“Certainly, the people in this electorate...they just could not believe the priority of Malcolm Turnbull’s government is to give $17 million to the banks at the expense of our schools and hospitals,” Ms Keay said.

“They were absolutely flabbergasted... our message cut through to them, they took notice of it and they realised what impact that would have on them personally and I think the people of Australia completely refuted the priorities of Malcolm Turnbull.”

Liberal Party candidate Brett Whiteley conceded defeat at the byelection on Sunday.

He said the level of support shown for Mr Garland and minor parties had been opportunistic.

“I think that’s a concern for major parties across the country and probably across the world if you have a close look, it’s always an opportunity to have a bit of a crack at major parties and... a byelection gives you that opportunity without necessarily changing the government,” Mr Whiteley said.

“I think the context in which the next election will be held will be a very different one, when people put their pencil on that ballot paper next May, which is when I expect it will be, they’ll know their vote on that occasion could very well change the government, change the prime minister and change the direction of the country and I think the result will be very different.”

Ms Keay said she knew not to become complacent.

“I know it will be a Labor government in 2019,” she said.

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