Fed: Labor would need Ryan like swing to win Vic seat

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2001
Fed: Labor would need Ryan like swing to win Vic seat

The federal government could face another untimely by-election following the death
of Liberal MP PETER NUGENT of an apparent heart attack overnight.

Labor would need a swing of about 8.5 per cent to win Mr NUGENT's Melbourne seat of
Aston in a by-election.

The figure is slightly less than the swing the ALP achieved to take the blue ribbon
Queensland Liberal seat of Ryan last month.

A general federal election can be called for both houses of parliament after July 1
and House of Representatives Speaker Liberal NEIL ANDREW may decide against issuing a
writ for a by-election in Aston.

An Australian Electoral Commission spokeswoman says there have been instances where
parliamentary speakers did not call by-elections because they would be run to close to
a general federal election.





The seat of Aston in Melbourne's outer south-east, takes in the suburbs of Bayswater,
Ringwood, Ferntree Gully and Wantirna.

AAP RTV gfr/jlw/mjm/wz

KEYWORD: NUGENT (MELBOURNE)

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