Liberals favoured for Robertson

Liberal candidate for Robertson, Darren Jameson, is the favourite to win the election, according to an internet betting website.

Jameson is favourite at $1.50, while Labor candidate Deborah O'Neill is paying $2.45 on the Sportingbet website.

Sportingbet Australia chief executive officer Mr Michael Sullivan said that the close market in Robertson reflected an election contest that would have been unimaginable 12 months ago.

Robertson is just one of the 40 hotly-contested seats that political punters are able to bet on, as Julia Gillard's Labor Government fights off a tough challenge from the Coalition opposition of Tony Abbott, he said.

With a margin of only 0.1 per cent, any swing against the Government will hand Robertson to the Liberals.

"Jameson will be trying to keep the focus on Neal," Mr Sullivan said.

"A former policeman and a background in the local Chamber of Commerce, he is a strong contender for the Liberals.

"O'Neill, a former candidiate for the State seat of Gosford, will need to run a strong campaign to keep the seat in Labor's hands."

Press release, 9 Jul 2010 Michael Sullivan, Sportingbet Australia