A RECORD 45 candidates will vie for the Victorian Legislative Council’s five Western Victoria seats on Saturday.
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Among the election nominees is Horsham’s Di Bell, who is second on the People Power Victoria – No Smart Meters ticket.
People Power is against smart meters, which it believes are a danger to health because they emit pulsed radio frequencies.
Ballarat’s Philip Gluyas is first on the party’s ticket and believes he will be the first openly autistic person to be elected to parliament.
Filling the last spot on the Coalition’s ticket is Horsham Nationals candidate Donna Winfield.
The Labor and Liberal parties are expected to win two seats each, leaving the fifth seat up for grabs. A number of minor and micro-parties have a chance to snare it.
Thrust to prominence after the ALP decided to preference it first, the Democratic Labor Party’s lead candidate Mark Farrell has emerged as a contender for the seat.
He said he would tackle anti-abortion law reform, subsidies for sporting club fees, an impending agronomy hotline and reforms to turf regulations if he was elected.
St Arnaud farmer Catroina Thoolen is the lead candidate on the Palmer United party ticket.
She has called for a review of allied health care in western Victoria and money for rail infrastructure.
Rise Up Australia is a far-right anti-muslim party, which is looking to arrest what it describes as a ‘moral decay’ in society.
Libertarian party The Liberal Democrats – the party of Federal Senator David Leyonhjelm – is committed to lower taxes, smaller government and personal freedoms.
Australian Country Alliance’s lead candidate is Torquay man Gary Kerr.
The party has a range of policies that seek to improve services to regional Victoria and advocate for increased freedoms and access to recreation.
Shooters and Fishers will look to defend the rights of hunters and anglers and also champion conservative family values.
The Australian Cyclists Party believes cycling is paramount to improving the health and well-being of communities.
Voice For The West is a centrist party that will seek to advocate for Melbourne’s western suburbs.
The Animal Justice Party will advocate for animal rights if it is elected to parliament.
Australian Christians is a conservative, anti-abortion party which will also look to reduce rates, stamp duty and taxes.
Independent Gary Mannion, 63, is based in Melton and said health, education, unemployment and transport were his main issues.
He said he had a sister who lived in Horsham and would fight for the restoration of passenger rail.
The Christian conservative Family First Party has nominated Darley’s Barry Newton as its lead candidate.
Vote 1 Local Jobs will be led by Moyne mayor James Purcell, who has an eight-point plan to stimulate employment in western Victoria.
The Greens’ lead candidate is Lloyd Davies, who is considered one of the stronger hopes to win the seat.
The Sex Party will run two candidates in Western Victoria.