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 Politicians look west with hope and caution 

Politicians look west with hope and caution

8/09/2008 1:00:00 AM
The ACT Labor Government says it will be following the West Australian poll result but warns that Canberra is ''a thousand miles away'' from the WA election.

Deputy Chief Minister Katy Gallagher said the Government did not take the October election for granted and people would vote on what was happening in their community.

No ACT government has been elected for more than two terms and the Stanhope Government is seeking a third term in power.

Opposition Leader Zed Seselja said the West Australian poll was a ''message to all governments''.

''They ignore the community at their own risk whether it be the electorate in Western Australia or the electorate in the ACT. Bad governments will be judged on their record.''

Federal Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith told ABC radio it was difficult for state or territory governments to win more than two terms in office.

He said two terms was the ''natural cycle'' for governments in Australian politics.

''After two terms it's special circumstances or Opposition difficulties.''

Ms Gallagher said the election would be won or lost on the voters' desire and it was irrelevant whether it would be one, two or three terms.

''We've only had parliament since 1989, we haven't had too many terms for us to win,'' she said.

''There's volatility in every election campaign that I've ever worked on.

''We'll certainly be looking at WA, as will the Liberals and independents, but I think we've got to concentrate on our campaign here and try to win a third time.''

The Greens candidate for Molonglo, Shane Rattenbury, said the WA poll augured well for the party's primary vote.

Mr Rattenbury said the result showed that when voters abandoned Labor they tended to vote Green a move which could allow the party to pick up more seats in the ACT election.

''Meredith [Hunter's] chances in Ginninderra are looking stronger particularly on a trend like this. So a small swing could get her over the line this time.''

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