Fraser by-election results
By Lara Pullin
CANBERRA — Disillusionment with traditional parties was notable in the outcome of the Fraser by-election on February 1. The ALP retained the seat vacated by Labor's John Langmore (who left to take up a lucrative post with the UN in Geneva).
Steve Dargavel, an Australian Manufacturing Workers Union organiser, got 65.9% of the two-candidate preferred vote, with independent former Liberal Cheryl Hill gaining 34.1% (18.1% of the primary vote).
The remaining seven conservative independent candidates polled a combined 14.1%. Australians Against Further Immigration's Angela Walker polled 3.5%; Call to Australia's John Miller got 3.4%; and Reclaim Australia Reduce Immigration's John Hutchinson got 2.3%.
Anti-racism independent Alice Chu (a small business operator endorsed by the Chinese community) pulled in 8.1% of the primary vote. She stood on a platform of opposition to the racism of John Howard and Pauline Hanson, and defence of the public sector, health, education and broader interests.
Chu has indicated that she will stand in the 1998 ACT Legislative Assembly elections.
The Greens' Dierk von Behrens led the liveliest and most visible campaign, with clear policies for the environment, jobs, economic recovery, health and education winning 10.6% of the primary vote.
The Greens distributed a broadsheet to all households in the electorate, opened a large shopfront in the major shopping mall, and held stalls outside many suburban shopping centres. Behrens will be standing for the 1998 ACT elections, and is very likely to gain representation.
The ALP's primary vote dropped slightly, to just below 50%. This is attributed mainly to anger amongst traditional Labor voters who see Langmore deserting his post at a time when Canberra faces its most serious attacks on the public sector.