Bishop upbeat about Speaker ballot

By Kerry-Anne Walsh
November 14, 2004
The Sun-Herald
Pressing the flesh ... Speaker hopeful Bronwyn Bishop meets supporters at Dee Why beach yesterday

Photo: Jacky Ghossein

Bronwyn Bishop is gathering late support for her tilt at the Speaker's job as it emerged that Prime Minister John Howard has rejected suggestions he supports another Sydney candidate, Bruce Baird.

Fresh from being backslapped by sun-worshippers on Dee Why beach, Ms Bishop said yesterday she was "very upbeat" about tomorrow's ballot.

Government MPs will vote in a secret ballot to elect the new Speaker, with the Parliament endorsing the winner on Tuesday.

The MP for Mackellar on the northern beaches said there was a "lot of support out there" for her to snatch the $200,000-a-year job, which would make her only the second woman in Australian history to become Speaker.

The first was Victorian Labor MP Joan Child, who was Speaker for three years from 1986.

"I'm working hard to get the job," Ms Bishop said from her Dee Why office.

"I've got a very good chance of winning. I'm very upbeat. I'm fortunate in having a number of ministers who are very supportive."

It is understood Health Minister Tony Abbott, who represents the neighbouring seat of Warringah, is pressing colleagues to support the woman once tipped to be Australia's first female prime minister.

Ms Bishop's main opponent in the five-horse race is former NSW minister and federal backbencher Mr Baird, who his supporters have been bragging was backed by the Prime Minister.

But Mr Howard's spokesman rebutted the claim, saying that despite such reports the Prime Minister was neither endorsing or supporting any candidate.

Ms Bishop said the Prime Minister had made his position very clear: "He said very simply he wasn't going to intervene, it was a matter for his colleagues, and the PM is a man of his word."

A factor in Ms Bishop's favour is that the ALP is plumping for Mr Baird to get the job, believing he won't be as tough as the woman who made her name a decade ago monstering former Tax Commissioner Trevor Boucher when he appeared before a senate committee. Opposition Leader Mark Latham said during the week that Mr Baird was a "good sort of person", while the woman affectionately known as "Bronnie" scared him.

Five candidates will nominate for the position - Wilson Tuckey, David Jull, David Hawker, Ms Bishop and Mr Baird.