Greens make history in Mayo

September 8th, 2008

Greens Senator for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young says the Greens are ecstatic about their history-making performance in the Mayo by-election yesterday.

“It’s a fantastic, history-making result, and we’re very proud of our candidate Lynton Vonow,” said Senator Hanson-Young.

“We’ve built strongly on the 11 per cent that the Greens received in Mayo at the 2007 federal election to achieve our best result ever in a South Australian lower-house seat.

“The Greens’ goal for this by-election was to provide the chance for voters to send a strong message to both old parties that ‘business as usual’ is just not good enough.

“With 22 per cent of the primary vote, and a two-party preferred figure of 47 per cent at present, it’s clear that the voters of Mayo have taken up the opportunity to send that message.”

The swing of more than 10 per cent against Liberal candidate Jamie Briggs could not be blamed on the field of 11 candidates, Senator Hanson-Young said.

“The 24 years that the former Liberal member held Mayo are marked by inaction on the Murray,” she said.

“Clearly the people of Mayo have felt taken for granted by the Liberals, and the Greens’ credibility on this issue has been recognised.”

Senator Hanson-Young said the Greens were waiting on the final figures to be declared.

“We’re hoping to stay in the two-party preferred,” she said.

“The Greens look forward to fielding candidates in every state seat in the Mayo area in the 2010 state election.”