Federal election: ‘Voices of’ independent candidates have strong backing in three Liberal seats – The Australian Financial Review

These numbers should embarrass the ACTU pollster who offered them up, he said.

Dr Crosby, the founder of a lobby group called Migraine Australia, said: I have no political clients in Australia at the moment, only charities.

In the eastern Sydney seat of Wentworth, Liberal backbencher Dave Sharma is ahead of fashion-label manager Allegra Spender by 36 to 32 per cent, according to the poll.

The contest is being closely followed in Sydney because of the seats historical importance to the Liberal Party. It has been held by two Liberal leaders, Malcolm Turnbull and John Hewson.

Even though Ms Spender grew up in the electorate and her father and grandfather were Liberal MPs, questions asked as part of the polling suggest she has not established a high profile.

Allegra Spender has generally failed to connect with the Wentworth electorate and is still considered an unknown, Dr Crosby wrote in commentary on the polling.

Allegra Spender is challenging Liberal Dave Sharma in Wentworth.Jessica Hromas, Alex Ellinghausen

Most of her voters are protesting against [Prime Minister Scott] Morrison, not voting for her, and only a handful of respondents referred to her by name. Those who are against Sharma are mostly repeating the Holmes Court line that he fails to stand up to the party on climate change.

The Coalition and Labor both support no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050. Mr Holmes Court and the Voices Of candidates he finances, including Ms Spender, want emissions to be cut faster than the major parties have promised.

In North Sydney, backbencher Trent Zimmerman is ahead of charity executive Kylea Tink by 42 per cent to 30 per cent, according to the poll.

Unlike the other seats, North Sydney has seen a significant shift from last years trends following the announcement of Catherine Renshaw as the ALP candidate, Dr Crosby wrote.

The ALP vote has jumped, taking primary vote from both Zimmerman and Tink, and turning it into a decent three-cornered contest. The preference flow could go either way.

In Warringah, on Sydneys lower north shore, incumbent independent MP Zali Steggall is ahead of the Liberal Party by 53 to 31 per cent.

Many voters refer to her by her full name in the many glowing comments, indicating respect and a high presence in her electorate, Dr Crosby said.

Ms Steggalls Liberal opponent has not been chosen. The polls margin of error is 5 per cent, Dr Crosby said, and about 500 voters were sampled in each seat.

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Federal election: 'Voices of' independent candidates have strong backing in three Liberal seats - The Australian Financial Review