Bill Bartlett Bracknell Tas
http://www.themercury.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,12871455%255E3462,00.html
Wing in on a walk-over By DANNY ROSE Hobart mercury 16th April 05
UPPER House president Don Wing has reclaimed his seat in State Parliament without a vote being cast.
The sitting member for Paterson has claimed another six years in the job, on a wage of up to $120,000, after he was the only candidate to nominate for his seat.
Mr Wing's Launceston-based division was one of three up for grabs in the Upper House part-elections to be staged on May 7.
Nine candidates had stepped forward to contest the seats of Murchison and Rumney by the Tasmanian Electoral Commission's close of nominations yesterday. Deputy Electoral Commissioner Ian Hughes announced Mr Wing's sole candidacy in Paterson had ruled out the need for a poll.
The quirk of the electoral system was last seen in 1993, he said.
"As there is only one candidate nominated for the division of Paterson, there will be no poll," Mr Hughes said yesterday.
"The Returning Officer will publicly declare Don Wing elected on polling day."
It will be Mr Wing's fifth term, and it will take him up to just shy of 30 years in the state's Legislative Council.
He will be returned as a sitting member of the Upper House, which is worth about $87,000 a year, but his loading for being president is another $30,000.
It will take a vote of the house after the elections to allow Mr Wing to again be president but his experience means his removal from the role is unlikely.
Mr Wing, 66, described his lack of challengers as: "the ultimate vote of confidence".