Steggall retains Warringah
Independent Zali Steggall has retained her northern beaches seat of Warringah,
Independent Zali Steggall has retained her northern beaches seat of Warringah, increasing her margin over the Liberal Party as she fended off a challenge from Liberal candidate Katherine Deves, who shot to national attention as a result of her controversial views of trans people.
Steggall captured Warringah from former Liberal prime minister Tony Abbott at the 2019 election, in a victory that foreshadowed the appeal of the teal movement that crystallised in this election. This year her thumping victory triggered immediate questions about Liberal preselection processes that selected Deves, but former prime minister Tony Abbott insisted that neither she nor the Liberal Party had failed.
But the contest for Warringah retained some of the acrimony of the 2019 fight. Deves’ placards were torn down the night before election day and police were called to a booth at one point. It was clear by very early counting that Deves could not win. By the time she began her concession speech at about 9.30pm, counting showed the Liberal primary vote had gone backwards about 6 per cent from the 2019 loss, leaving Steggall with about 60 per cent of the vote.
Steggall said she would not consider forming a political party, despite now being a veteran among the raft of successful teal candidates. ‘‘I’m here as an independent,’’ Steggall said. ‘‘We need to think past the idea of political party.’’
She said Australians were more united than they were given credit for and were turned off by negative politics. ‘‘They don’t want it any more. The fact that I think the crossbench can work collaboratively really well with both sides of politics…It is a real moment for the major parties to rethink the arrogance that they don’t have to consult with communities any more.’’
In her concession speech, Deves rejected claims that she was preselected as part of a culturewar play, saying her words on trans people had been repeatedly distorted and she had run to be ‘‘a real voice for Warringah’’.
‘‘You haven’t seen the last of me,’’ she told the Liberal party faithful at the Balgowlah Bowling Club and later affirmed she plans to run again for the party.
Liberal Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said there were ‘‘clear mistakes’’ and ‘‘process breakdowns’’ in the preselection of Deves. Speaking after the result became apparent, Birmingham said the Liberals had ‘‘paid a price in Warringah’’.
‘‘There are lessons to be learnt, and I expect wherever we go, hopefully still into government, we have to heed those messages.’’ he said. Abbott, who introduced Deves at the function, took a different view. ‘‘She hasn’t failed, and frankly I don’t believe this Liberal Party has failed either,’’ he said. The Liberal Party, Abbott said, was best on climate change when it was approached as an economic issue despite Steggall’s success campaigning on the topic.
Despite the terse campaign and national focus on Deves, the voters that the Herald spoke to were more concerned with issues like climate change. ‘‘Times are changing,’’ said small businessman James Caputo, 38, after voting yesterday morning. ‘‘There’s a new generation looking forward for which climate change is a big factor.’’
Steggall denied on Saturday that her supporters had pulled down Deves signs ahead of polling day as photos emerged of Liberal signage discarded on the ground.
‘‘Everyone in my team signs to three P’s: to be polite, positive and prepared,’’ Steggall said. ‘‘No, I’m very confident that it’s got nothing to do with my team.’’
