Rob Oakeshott could be on the verge of a dramatic return to Parliament.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Coalition strategists appear to have hit the panic button in the NSW seat of Cowper, mobilising Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in an attempt to protect former National Party minister Luke Hartsuyker against the late challenge by the independent.
In an unusual move for a Prime Minister in the last week of an election campaign, Mr Turnbull cold-called a small ABC radio station on Tuesday morning to go into bat for Mr Hartsuyker who is in danger of losing his seat despite a handsome 13 per cent margin to the Nationals in that seat.
ABC Radio's mid-north coast presenter Michael Spooner was stunned when a media adviser for Mr Turnbull called at 7.46am offering him a rare one-on-one with the PM.
In a 15-minute interview over the phone from Brisbane, Mr Spooner put it to Mr Turnbull that he was concerned about losing Cowper.
National Party director Scott Mitchell played down the significance of Mr Turnbull's call to ABC Mid North Coast.
"There's nothing unusual in it. We don't take any seat for granted. We are working very hard in Cowper and we're confident we will get there," he said.
On Tuesday, Mr Turnbull renewed his warning against voting for independents and minor parties in both houses. As a result of the redistribution, Port Macquarie, which is Mr Oakeshott's home town, has moved into Cowper. He famously represented the seat of Lyne during the Gillard minority government.
Since Mr Turnball’s cold-call to ABC Radio, an arrangement was made for former Prime Minister John Howard to speak exclusively to the Port Macquarie News, on the same day Premier Mike Baird arrived in town to inspect the Pacific Highway with Mr Hartsuyker and State MP Leslie Williams.
At a meeting with disability support agency New IDAFE, Premier Baird and Mr Hartsukyer made it clear the Coalition remained confident going into tomorrow’s election.
Let’s leave it up to the voters now.
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR:
The wraparound on Friday’s edition (July 1) of the Port Macquarie News is advertising content paid for and authorised by the Nationals. This advertising space is open to any party or customer to book and should not be considered a political endorsement by the Port Macquarie News.