Wimmera towns such as Kaniva and Rainbow could soon be grouped in with Ararat, Stawell and Halls Gap under the federal electorate of Mallee, if a proposal by the Victorian branch of National Party is adopted.
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The party has made a submission to the Australian Electoral Commission, which is changing the boundaries of Victoria's electorates due to population growth.
The public has until this Friday to lodge written suggestions to proposals, which were submitted between September and October 16.
The Grampians area towns are all currently in the electorate of Wannon, held by Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan and centred on the southwestern towns of Hamilton and Warrnambool.
In its submission, the National Party suggests Maryborough be moved from the seat of Mallee, to Wannon's north, into the seat of Bendigo.
"With Maryborough moving into the Division of Bendigo, and with the Division of Wannon needing to expand eastward, we propose that townships currently in the Division of Wannon be moved into the Division of Mallee. The towns (and surrounding areas) of Ararat, Stawell, Balmoral and Hall's Gap have been moved into the Division of Mallee under this proposal.
"It is our view that these communities have more in common with towns like Horsham than Maryborough and are therefore an appropriate switch. As discussed below, the Division of Corangamite must move several towns into the Division of Wannon. The addition of these towns therefore adjusts the Division of Mallee and the Division of Wannon to within quota while also providing strong communities of interest to these North-Western and South-Western divisions."
The Party also notes while it is proposing Stawell again changes federal seats, this is necessary because it would bring the entire Wimmera into one electoral division.
"Locals travel to Horsham for their shopping and service needs. Their local Football and Netball teams play in the Wimmera Football & Netball League," it reads, saying this latter point also applies to Ararat.
The proposal would also see the Grampians National Park straddle the boundary of two federal electorates, where it is currently entirely in Wannon.
The National Party's full proposal
Another suggestion came from Murray Davis, a resident of Dergholm in the West Wimmera Shire and the Mallee electorate.
Mr Davis said the boundary of Wannon should be moved north to include his town.
"People from the southern part of the Mallee electorate are far more likely to do their business in Hamilton than (electorate headquarters) Mildura," he said. "It is unfortunate that the federal representative for the Mallee electorate (currently Anne Webster) does not often get to the southern townships in this electorate."
A spokesman said the AEC's redistribution committee would come up with a draft proposal for Victoria's new electoral boundaries in early 2021.
Following this, there will be another round of consultation to hear any objections to the proposal.
At the 2019 Federal Election, 27.86 per cent of voters gave Dr Webster their first preference, a swing against of 28.06 per cent compared to 2016.
There was also a swing against Labor, and a swing towards the Liberal Party and independent candidates.
In Wannon Labor candidate Maurice Billi received more two-candidate-preferred votes than Mr Tehan at Ararat and Halls Gap polling places at the 2019 election. There was a slight swing towards Mr Tehan at this poll.
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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.
