PM Transcripts

PRIME MINISTER
October 1996 TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER
THE HON JOHN HOWARD MP
DOORSTOP WREST POINT CASINO HOTEL
HOBART, TASMANIA
E& OE
There was Bass, there was Canberra, now I think I can say, Lindsay.
Ladies and gentlemen, I think we can say, " Jackie Kelly, we love you." After 42 per cent,
42 per cent of the votes that have been counted, Jackie Kelly has 50.3 per cent of the
majority vote. On those figures her primary vote has risen by about seven per cent since
the general election. And it is estimated conservatively that the two Party preferred swing
to the Liberal Party is about two per cent conservatively and some estimates will put it as
high as five per cent. Now, Lindsay is not an electorate which sort of has a Liberal end
and a Labor end. I mean, you've got 42 per cent... I1 mean, I'm a very cautious bloke. One
of Australia's better known political commentators said I was an absolute pessimist when
it came to by-elections. I always like to have happy surprises, but this is a tremendous
result, it really is. And to win a seat like this, as it appears as though we have, with an
increased majority after seven months and after a pretty ordinary week over the
last ( applause) all I can say is that... . I mean, the person who should be in our thoughts
tonight is our magnificent candidate, Jackie Kelly.
But can I simply thank the people of Lindsay. I'm very proud of the fact that a lot of
Howard's battlers who came to us on the 2nd of March and stayed with us, it looks as
though they may have brought some of their mates with them. And the other thing that
I've got to say is that this result is a vindication of that great Australian tradition of the fair
go, it really is. That girl deserved a fair go and it seems as though, through all the static,
that the wonderful people of Lindsay have delivered her that fair go. So thank you Jackie,
you're terrific, you're the tops and we'll welcome you back with open arms when you are
re-sworn in again.
Thank you very much.