HENDO COULD LOSE COLAC

COLAC would be removed from the seat of Corangamite — tipping the scales against sitting Liberal MP Sarah Henderson — under proposals by several political parties.

Of the country’s four largest parties, only the Liberals are arguing for the retention of the existing electoral boundaries between Corangamite, Wannon and Corio.

The Coalition is split on the future make-up of the marginal seat of Corangamite, with the Nationals calling for the adjoining seat of Wannon to absorb Colac and the Otways.

The submissions come as the Australian Electoral Commission looks at how to add an additional lower house seat to Victoria.

After two razor-thin elections, Ms Henderson won the seat by more than 3 per cent at the 2013 and 2016 polls.

But the loss of Colac and the Otway region, historically a conservative stronghold, would be damaging to her reelection chances.

Under the Labor Party’s proposal, the entire ColacOtway Shire would transfer to Wannon. Corangamite would pick up the remainder of the Golden Plains Shire and parts of the Bellarine Peninsula.

The Greens also want Corangamite to become more of a outer-suburban seat.

“By moving Colac and surrounds into Wannon, this strengthens Corangamite’s status as a Geelong/Surf Coast electorate,” the Greens said.

Following strong residential growth in Geelong’s southern suburbs, the number of voters in Corangamite needs to be reduced to come under the required quota. Wannon is also under the quota due to a flatlining in its rural areas.

However, Liberal Party state director Nick Demiris has argued that no changes should be made to the three seats.

The AEC said the changes would take effect from July 13 next year.