The Penrith by-election

There was a NSW state by-election in Penrith yesterday. This is one of the safest seats for Labor, in west Sydney.

In 2007 Labor’s primary vote was 49% and two party-preferred was 59%.

In the by-election Labor’s primary vote was 24% and two party-preferred 34%.

The next state election is March 2011, and federal election later this year.

Disgruntled Labor voters cited both state and federal issues as factors in their vote swing. There was also the local issue that the former MP resigned in disgrace for lying.

At a federal level the Labor MPs are getting very nervous and waiting for a Newspoll out later today, before deciding whether to try and roll Rudd.

A story today reports that the Greens Senate Leader, Bob Brown, has not been able to secure a meeting with Rudd for 15 months, unlike John Howard who often negotiated with minor parties to get bills passed in the Senate.