THE Wimmera is in uncharted political waters, with only one candidate nominated for the seat of Lowan less than three months from the state election.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Current Nationals Member for Lowan Emma Kealy is the only confirmed nominee for the November 24 ballot.
Lowan is the largest seat in Victoria and one of the safest, with the Nationals maintaining a stronghold since the seat was established in its current form in 2002.
In every election since that year, the Australian Labor Party and the Greens have stood candidates in Lowan.
Australian Labor Party Victoria deputy campaign director Kosmos Samaras said Labor would field a candidate in Lowan for this year’s election.
“The process of trying to recruit a candidate is ongoing and we should have that process completed within a few weeks,” he said.
“We have got at least two or three people we are looking at. The Labor party will contest every single state electorate in Victoria.”
Labor Party member Bob Scates, who contested the seat of Lowan for Labor in the 2014 election, said it was a concern the party had not confirmed its candidate.
“There have been a couple of people who expressed interest but none to my knowledge who said, ‘I’m on my way into the ALP office to get a nomination form’,” he said.
“If you’re Emma at the moment you feel a bit more comfortable.
“We do need to get people standing in every seat in Victoria, and I think the ALP is the only party that will field people in every seat.
“Labor is certainly working hard where we've got candidates in rural areas.”
Ms Kealy said it was vital there was support for the region from government.
“We need to make sure we get a good deal for Western Victoria,” she said.
“I haven’t seen any infrastructure announcements from Labor in our electorate. The longer they leave announcing a candidate, the less likely we'll have anything.
“Our electorate is the biggest in the state and we've got more infrastructure than anyone else, but we haven't seen the dollars from Labor.
“We're a strong and sound community, but we deserve to have a government that sees the opportunity here.
“If Labor wants to run a candidate they need to get someone up soon and get some announcements happening.”
Victorian Greens state director Clare Quinn said the party would run a candidate in Lowan.
“We run a democratic pre-selection of all members in the area, which takes time,” she said.
The Australian Country Party, which had a candidate in the 2014 election, said it did not intend to field a candidate in Lowan this year.
Former Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty – who won the seat in the 2002, 2006 and 2010 elections – said it was important all parties put their hand up in the electorate.
“Whether it be Labor or Greens, it's important people here judge them on their policies and what would be best for their electorate,” he said.
“From the point of view of democracy in this country, people have had a choice with the policies of the parties.”
While you’re with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox twice weekly from the Wimmera Mail-Times. To make sure you’re up-to-date with all the news from across the Wimmera, sign up below.
