Holt spoilt for choice

VOTERS in Holt have a choice of five different political parties when they take to the polls this weekend.
But Labor’s Anthony Byrne is expected to continue his party’s dominance in the electorate and retain the seat on Saturday.
Mr Byrne believes it will be a “very close” election.
“Julia Gillard will move the nation forward towards a sustainable Australia in which every Australian will have access to the best health services and the best education possible,” Mr Byrne said.
“This is in contrast to an Opposition that will cut health funding, cut funding to education, deny access to a first-class broadband network and restore the harshest elements of its workplace relations policy, putting thousands of jobs in the area at risk.”
Mr Byrne said in the time he had spent doorknocking and speaking with people in the electorate, local residents had expressed concern at the prospect of losing their job security and their essential services being cut by an Abbott government.
Liberal candidate Ricardo Balancy said the mood during the campaign had been positive for the last few weeks.
“Some of the traditional Labor voters have come out and said they’ve voted Labor for 30 years and think it’s time for a change,” he said.
Mr Balancy said the results in Holt would be much closer this time, unlike the “blowout” at the last election.
The other Holt candidates are: Frank Di Mascolo from the Australian Greens, Mark Hitchins from the Secular Party of Australia and Ian George from Family First.
A tough fight to the end has been predicted in the marginal seat of LaTrobe.
Liberal candidate and incumbent Jason Wood believes it will come down to heart.
“I consider myself in second place and never take anything for granted,” he said.
“As a local resident, I’ve spent the best part of 40 years living in La Trobe and I will keep fighting to see the best results because my heart is in it.”
Labor candidate Laura Smyth said she believed she would win the election and said there was no particular area that held the key to success, as the community was so diverse. “I think I will win the election locally as I am true to my word, work hard and I am not afraid to stand up for what I believe in,” she said.
“This election will be on a knife edge both locally and nationally, given the intense debate and political climate.”
If Ms Smyth can oust incumbent Liberal MP Jason Wood, it may help the Labor Government offset predicted heavy losses in other states.
Greens candidate for LaTrobe Jim Reiher said it would be a “pleasant upset” if he won the seat.
“If I won it, it would be the upset of the election,” he said.
“But the truth is about 80 per cent of people vote for either Liberal or Labor. My goal is to raise the profile of the Greens.”
Mr Reiher said if elected, he would advocate for weed and fire control and better funding for schools and health clinics.