Fed: By-election begins in Costello's seat of Higgins

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2009
Fed: By-election begins in Costello's seat of Higgins

Voting has begun in former treasurer PETER COSTELLO's Melbourne seat .. in the first
electoral test of the coalition's climate change position under new leader TONY ABBOTT.

Mr COSTELLO's previous chief of staff .. lawyer KELLY O'DWYER .. is the Liberal candidate
and obvious runner for the seat .. which has been held by the former treasurer for almost
20 years.

But the Greens cannot be written off fielding high profile candidate .. Canberra academic
CLIVE HAMILTON .. who is the former head of the left leaning think tank The Australia
Institute.

He's hoping to take the Liberals to preferences for the first time in the seat's 60
year history .. by snatching votes from previous Liberal voters unhappy with Mr ABBOTT's
decision to sink the government's emissions trading scheme this week.

Eight other candidates are standing in Higgins .. including an independent climate
change sceptic .. a former Hungarian wrestler and a member of the Sex Party.

AAP RTV mj/sw

KEYWORD: HIGGINS (MELBOURNE)

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