Holt spoilt for choice

VOTERS in Holt have a choice of five different political parties when they take to the polls this weekend.
But Labor’s Anthony Byrne is expected to continue his party’s dominance in the electorate and retain the seat on Saturday.
Mr Byrne believes it will be a “very close” election.
“Julia Gillard will move the nation forward towards a sustainable Australia in which every Australian will have access to the best health services and the best education possible,” Mr Byrne said.
“This is in contrast to an Opposition that will cut health funding, cut funding to education, deny access to a first-class broadband network and restore the harshest elements of its workplace relations policy, putting thousands of jobs in the area at risk.”
Mr Byrne said in the time he had spent doorknocking and speaking with people in the electorate, local residents had expressed concern at the prospect of losing their job security and their essential services being cut by an Abbott government.
Liberal candidate Ricardo Balancy said the mood during the campaign had been positive for the last few weeks.
“Some of the traditional Labor voters have come out and said they’ve voted Labor for 30 years and think it’s time for a change,” he said.
Mr Balancy said the results in Holt would be much closer this time unlike the “blowout” at the last election.
The other Holt candidates are: Frank Di Mascolo from the Australian Greens, Mark Hitchins from the Secular Party of Australia and Ian George from Family First.
Flinders Liberal candidate and incumbent Greg Hunt said he had enjoyed the campaign but would let others be the judge of how it had gone.
“For myself, I don’t take anything for granted,” he said.
“It is an honour to be able to represent the electorate of Flinders and it’s a role that must be earned.”
Mr Hunt has competition in Francis Ventura from the Labor Party, Bob Brown from the Australian Greens and Reade Smith from Family First.