WHAT appeared to be a change of political change of allegiance at one of Swan
Hill’s most prominent properties was merely a storm in a teacup, according to
its owner.
Situated at the northern entrance to Swan Hill on prime billboard
real estate, it’s no surprise that Norm Mathiske was approached to hang some
political posters on his former tractor dealership ahead of the Federal
Election.
According to Norm, the man who approached him had previously been a
staunch Nationals voter, so he assumed the posters would be for the party’s
current candidate Andrew Broad.
Instead, the friend had recently “jumped
ship” to back Katter’s Australian Party candidate Vince Cirillo.
Mr Cirillo’s
campaign material took pride of place for about two weeks, before Norm received
a concerned phone call from Member for Mallee John Forrest.
“I’d promised it
[the advertising space] earlier to John Forrest, so he said ‘what the hell are
you doing with that bloody mob?”
At first, Norm didn’t know what the fuss was
about.
“I didn’t realise they were the enemy,” Norm laughed.
But in what
is likely to be one of the most tightly-fought election contests in decades, the
life-long Nationals voter soon realised the implications.
“I
didn’t think it would collide with my political beliefs, until it dawned on me,
and I appreciated the situation.”
Meanwhile, Katter’s
Australian Party began investigating the matter this week, and alerted The
Guardian among other media outlets.
Mr Mathiske hosed down any suggestions
that he had been bullied into taking down the posters and he said there was no
animosity.
For more of this story, see Wednesday’s Guardian (July 17).
