WIMMERA voters will choose between candidates from both the Coalition’s parties at this year’s Federal Election.
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The Liberal and National parties will each field candidates for the seat of Mallee in a move that continues a recent trend of both parties contesting the seat when a sitting member retires.
Since 1993, the Liberal party contested the seat only when Peter Fisher retired that same year, and later John Forrest in 2013.
Andrew Broad, the Member for Mallee since 2013, will not recontest his seat after magazine reports revealed the married 43-year-old sent suggestive text messages to a woman with the alias “Sweet Sophia Rose”, later meeting her for dinner while on an official trip to Hong Kong.
Independent Ray Kingston, a former Yarriambiack Shire mayor, and Citizen’s Electoral Council candidate Chris Lahy have already announced their plans to run.
The Liberal Party’s Mildura branch president Russell Lamattina confirmed the party would field a candidate – partly to help the Nationals through preferences.
“We can give them support from more people who wish to vote for a right-of-centre political party,” he said. “We would like to get up, of course – but even if we don’t, we will at least provide support for a Coalition member to get up.
“There will be people … who may turn off the Nationals but still be inclined to vote Liberal, so we’d like to try to encourage those voters.”
Mr Lamattina said he expected the Liberal and National party to fare strongly on election day.
He said the voting Liberal could mean a more influential seat at the table.
“The difference is whether we have someone in Mallee from the major party room, or sort of the younger brother party who we believe may not have as much influence as a Liberal member would,” he said.
Nominations for Liberal pre-selection open on January 15, before the successful candidate is chosen in February.
The Mail-Times had reported the Mallee Liberals were seeking Wycheproof-born Peta Credlin, the former chief of staff to then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott, as their candidate, but Mr Lammattina said the party had not not pursued this.
He said the party wanted a candidate who was best positioned to improve the Liberal Party culture.
The Nationals have been the only party ever to hold the seat of Mallee since its creation in 1949.
The election date has yet to be announced.
Alexander Darling
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
