One of the intriguing aspects of tomorrow’s election is whether Kevin Rudd can hold on in his own seat of Griffith.
Rudd has held Griffith since 1998. He first contested it in 1996 but was defeated. His opponent this year is the former president of the Australian Medical Association, Bill Glasson.
Glasson has fought an intensive ground war in the Brisbane-based electorate over the past year. At least one opinion poll during the campaign has shown him ahead.
The ALP is struggling in Queensland. It currently holds 8 of the 30 electorates and it appears unlikely that it can win anymore. It is in danger of losing seats such as Moreton, Petrie, Lilley and Capricornia.
In the 1996 defeat of the Keating government, the ALP was reduced to two seats in Queensland (Brisbane and Rankin). In the 1975 defeat of the Whitlam government, it was reduced to one seat (Oxley).
If Labor is defeated decisively tomorrow, it is possible that Kevin Rudd could join John Howard (Bennelong 1996) and Stanley Melbourne Bruce (Flinders 1929) as the third prime minister to lose an election and his seat.
- This video has been produced by Liberal candidate Bill Glasson’s campaign team:
