Kennett's surprise lifeline By DAMON JOHNSTON and FRAN CUSWORTH 24sep99 http://news.com.au/frame_loader.htm?/news_content/state_content/4403438.htm JEFF Kennett needs just 20 votes to win back a key seat thought lost to Labor � and with it a surprise lifeline. The Premier's hopes of saving Geelong now rest on 238 postal votes from as far away as London, New York, Paris, Los Angeles, Jakarta, Singapore, Alice Springs and Noosa. The biggest block of postal votes � 112 � comes from Queensland. A Geelong comeback would give the Liberal-National Party coalition 44 seats, with Labor slipping back to 40, and three independent MPs. Mr Kennett said yesterday he needed a miracle to win both Geelong and Carrum, where the Liberals trailed by 117 votes last night. A Geelong win would give him new hope in the Frankston East poll of securing the crucial 45th seat he needs to form government. Victoria faces a hung parliament if Labor wins Frankston East and the three independents' support, with 44 coalition MPs, 41 Labor MPs and the country trio. Victoria's regional-based independents were thrashing out a "good government" test last night before deciding which party to back. But if Mr Kennett wins Geelong and Frankston East, they would lose their kingmaker role. "We would be happy to return to our role of working for our local communities," Mildura MP Russell Savage said. The glimmer of hope for Mr Kennett emerged at the close of counting last night, which confirmed a comeback by Housing Minister Ann Henderson in Geelong. Labor candidate Ian Trezise, who earlier had a buffer of more than 500 votes, saw his lead evaporate yesterday. Electoral commission figures show 200 of the votes still to be counted come from interstate polling booths, while 38 were lodged overseas. Traditionally, the Liberal Party can count on a majority of postal votes. With only 20 votes to make up, the Liberals need to secure about 55per cent of the remainder to win. As Geelong hung in the balance, independents Russell Savage, Susan Davies and Craig Ingram held talks with the Premier. Mr Kennett said the independents had not offered support, but they would meet again. "This is the first of many steps towards securing and restoring confidence back in Victoria through its elected government," he said. "I think the three independents were clearly professional about what they are seeking to do, understanding the responsibilities they have now had thrust upon them." Mr Savage said the talks went well but no deal was struck. The independents also spoke with National Party leader Pat McNamara. Mr Savage said their charter of good government � stressing accountability and transparency � should be completed today. "It's about making sure democracy is more than just a word," he said. One of their key demands is the return of the Auditor-General's full powers. Mr Savage said this was not negotiable. Ms Davies, who has already told Mr Kennett he should resign, took another dig at him yesterday. "When you chop a chook's head off it still runs around," she said. The Opposition also released legal advice which found that if Labor could form a majority with the help of the independents, Governor Sir James Gobbo could invite Mr Bracks to form government. "Once their support was signified, the Governor would have all that he constitutionally required to fulfil his function of enabling a government to be formed," the advice found. Mr Bracks toured rural Victoria yesterday, stressing common ground between Labor and the independents. "I have a big plan for regional Victoria," he said. "I have eight new seats in regional Victoria and we have the biggest constituency of any party in country Victoria." -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
