Byelections were held on Saturday in the Queensland seat of Longman, Tasmanian seat of Braddon, South Australian seat of Mayo and WA seats of Perth and Fremantle, sparked by the dual citizenship crisis that forced a number of federal MPs to resign.
Labor incumbents won all four of their seats back, while Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie received almost 60 per cent of the primary vote in Mayo, fending off Liberal Party candidate Georgina Downer. The government failed to pick up any seats from the opposition or cross-benchers.
Appearing alongside re-elected MP Susan Lamb in Longman, opposition leader Bill Shorten claimed victory and said the byelections are a step towards a “Labor government following the general election”.
Speaking to ifa following the byelections, AIOFP executive director Peter Johnston said the events may have an impact on the politics of the financial advice industry.
“The best news over the weekend for advisers concerned with FASEA is the defeat of the Turnbull government in the super Saturday byelections,” Mr Johnston said.
“This has to be a ‘wake up call’ that they should looking after small business and not the big end of town all the time.
“This week we will be on the attack of FASEA’s ridiculous proposed policies then entering into a political campaign with strategies to achieve change. It is time for the advice community to get really political and vote with their own self-interest at heart.”
Mr Johnston said that while many AIOFP members and advisers more generally have traditionally favoured the Coalition at elections, the FASEA issue may result in them considering other alternatives.
I can’t see education standards getting reduced after the royal commission that Labour lobbied so hard for. This article needs some more sources and perspective to give it some balance.
Well folks now it’s in black and white. Vote in your own self interest. Never a truer word spoken and a perfect summary of the AOIFP’s policy position. Last week a letter to advisers telling them they are idiots and can’t pass an exam and now this. Who are these clowns representing? Good to have Aleks back so the AOIFP can get the coverage they pay for.
What’s the alternative, the CBA & AMP owned FPA? How’s that CBA inspired FASEA working out for you? When you get a body like the FPA that is the puppet masters of CBA and AMP you get a certain outcome. Those clowns you speak of, are representing every adviser that feels that firms like CBA Financial Planning & AMP should not be involved in liaising with Treasury and Government. I think there is only one clown here and it’s you.
Yes definately clutching at straws here. Labour is likely to win and Fasea will seems like
Child’s play. Death by a thousand cuts.
Hi James,
Apologies for the slow posted reply, seems IFA forum editors don’t like facts and appear to have not posted my response earlier today. Disappointing. That aside.
I’m surprised Peter Johnston ever gets quoted after his ”Jack Flader” is an honorable man comments, let alone an association would let him speak on their behalf. But hey, gives me a chance to comment.
But Jack you are right, Peter Johnston is at best clutching at straws. If anyone thinks that any political party will be listening to (let alone aligning themselves with) financial planners / financial services or even the banks in the current environment, they are at best delusional. With the next round of the Royal Commission starting up again next week, probably not the time for Peter Johnston and the AIOFP to be wasting their breath.
Ask the average voter their concerns about FASEA they’ll most likely answer about being concerned about water quality, it’s about priority/concern for the average voter, they don’t care, and all the major and minor parties know this.
This time next year it’ll be Prime Minister Shorten, opposition leader ???? (Scott Morrison) and Peter Dutton no longer in the Parliament.
Enjoy the rest of the week.
Labor would definitely not be our ally. But it may give the Government pause for more caution as to how it treats small business. But I might be to optimistic.
You are kidding aren’t you Peter ???
A Labor Government treating planners better than a Liberal Government??
We are IFA’s mate, not Industry Super Funds, Labor will destroy us!!
Rock and hard place; Liberals destroy small business by shifting power and competitiveness away towards big business whilst also destroying broader net disposable income; Labor destroy corporate interests and profits and increase regulation and costs to small business.