VIC: Lib state director pledges to stay on in wake of defeat

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-1999
VIC: Lib state director pledges to stay on in wake of defeat

MELBOURNE, Dec 12 AAP - Victorian Liberal party director Peter Poggioli says he will
stay on despite the disastrous swing against the Liberals in the Burwood by-election.

"I have a contract with the Liberal Party that extends six months into next year and
I intend to honour that," he told AAP today.

Earlier, political scientist Dr Nick Economou suggested Dr Poggioli was in trouble
as state Liberal Party director.

"I think Dr Poggioli has got more to worry about than (Liberal leader Denis) Napthine.

This is yet another failure - how many more can the Liberals tolerate?" said Dr Economou,
senior lecturer in politics at Monash University.

Voters yesterday delivered former premier Jeff Kennett's seat of Burwood to ALP candidate
Bob Stensholt with a swing of 10.25 per cent.

Mr Stensholt snatched the seat from Liberal candidate Lana McLean in the eastern Melbourne
electorate that had been held by Mr Kennett for 23 years.

Dr Poggioli told AAP the Burwood result was "disappointing but not very surprising".

"Any time a government goes into a honeymoon period, it's very difficult for Oppositions
to win by-elections," he said.

The party would continue with the rebuilding process," Dr Poggioli said.

"We certainly won't be retiring to lick our wounds," he said, adding the Liberals would
listen to the community and develop policies in response to their concerns.

"Lana McLean worked very hard for the party and she was the party's choice," he said.

"Obviously, the amount of publicity that came out in the course of the campaign which
cast her in a bad light was damaging."

AAP sj/er/it

KEYWORD: BURWOOD POGGIOLI

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.