Senator Joyce said the win in Gippsland is a great boost to the Nationals as it clearly showed, in a choice between three, they were the preferred party by the people.

“In a strong, locally based campaign it was evident that issues such as fuel prices, grocery prices, protection for small business and protection of jobs in the coal industry were very important to the constituents.

“Whilst campaigning with Darren Chester, one can only be impressed by his understanding of the issues which affect the local community and, without promising the world, I feel that people genuinely believe he will do his best to keep their issues close to his heart when representing them in Canberra.

“Petrol prices and grocery prices are priority one issues and vote changers and, in the shops in Sale and Traralgon, more businesses want to have a fair go in their competition with big business. The Gippsland by-election is a wake up call to all political parties that when you are not specific in addressing certain concerns, such as fuel, groceries and a fair go for small business, then people will vote for someone else.

“If the Labor party gets the emission trading scheme wrong, they will lose the next election and go down as the fourth one term Government since Federation. If we continue to make decisions, such as removing the Single Desk and moving towards the repeal of the Birdsville Amendment then we, as the conservative side, show we are as foolish as Labor.

"Politics is about people, not models, theories and impossible promises and the Gippsland by-election clearly demonstrated that."

Ends