Russell Matheson says the scare campaign over Medicare was the main reason for his defeat in yesterday’s federal election.
“It looks like this campaign by the Labor Party on Medicare did scare a lot of people in my electorate,’’ Mr Matheson said.
But a redistribution of his Macarthur electorate also savagely cut into the 12 per cent margin he achieved in the 2013 federal election.
“Yes, that’s also another reason we lost Macarthur, going from a 12 per cent buffer to one of the most marginal seats in the country.
“But that’s life and I will move on.’’
Mr Matheson told the Voice in Macarthur this morning that this was the end of his career in politics.
He has been the Member for Macarthur since 2010 and previously was mayor of Campbelltown five times.
“That’s it, I’ve put enough time in politics,’’ he said.
“I will now have a little break and then I will start looking around for something else to do.’’
Dr Mike Freelander, the Labor Party candidate in Macarthur, had 59 per cent of the two party preferred vote.
With almost 93 percent of votes counted last night, this was a swing of 12.6 away from Matheson and the Liberal Party.
The minor parties received 10 percent of the primary votes cast.
Labor wins in Werriwa
Over in the seat of Werriwa north of Campbelltown, the Labor Party candidate, Liverpool councillor Anne Stanley achieved a 2.1 swing to defeat Liberal Ned Mannoun.
Ms Stanley had 58 percent of the two party preferred vote with Mannoun, who is the mayor of Liverpool, at just 36 percent.
Gough Whitlam’s old seat had been held previously by Laurie Ferguson, who retired at this election.
♦ For the record, nationally no party has been able to claim victory, with a hung parliament once again a real possibility.
goodbye Matheson
I’ll toss two other reasons in for consideration 1. Disloyalty, happy to turn his back on the electorate and take preselection for Hume, disrespecting everyone that supported you is always going to bite you on the backside. 2. Ineffective communication, in the last week or so of the campaign just a few tweets and FB posts about activity in the electorate. The PM was out here two days on the trot as well as the Minister for Employment but nothing to let supporters know this was occurring.
Someone from the past
Joel Matthews
Geez, Medicare lie was wrong….but thats is not the reason. Second worse swing in Aust, people want stuff done not excuses
well having an opposition member is not the way to get things done…good luck!