Election forum in Horsham

Wimmera-mallee voters will have another opportunity to hear from Mallee electorate candidates when they gather in Horsham tomorrow night.

Horsham Rural City Council and Victorian Farmers Federation are hosting a ‘Meet The Candidates’ forum at Horsham Town Hall.

Members of the public will be able to quiz candidates on a range of issues as part of the lead-up to the May 18 Federal Election.

The forum, from 6pm to 8pm, will be in the Horsham centre’s Heritage Hall and will be free of charge to the public.

Organisers expect most of the 13 candidates to attend.

The forum, which follows a similar event in Nhill, will start with each of the candidates delivering a brief personal biography and their reasons for standing for election.

It will continue under the direction of forum presenter Jessica Grimble, from Horsham.

The Horsham council has also reminded its residents that they can vote early in the election at 72-74 Firebrace Street between 8.30pm and 5.30pm until May 17.

Candidates for Mallee as they appear on a ballot paper: Serge Petrovich, Liberal Party of Australia; Cecilia Moar, Independent; Jason Modica, Independent; Rick Grosvenor, Fraser Anning’s Conservative National Party; Anne Webster, Nationals; Chris Lahy, Citizens Electoral Council; Philip Mollison, Rise Up Australia Party; Carole Hart, Australian Labor Party; Leigh Firman, Science Party; Ray Kingston, Independent; Dan Straub, Shooters Fishers and Farmers; Nicole Rowan, The Greens.

St Arnaud forum

Another Federal Election forum will be at St Arnaud Town Hall on Friday morning.

Northern Grampians mayor Kevin Erwin welcomed the forum, which will also concentrate on the Mallee electorate.

“With a big field of candidates from right across the political spectrum putting their hand up to represent the region in the Federal electorate of Mallee, this is a great opportunity for people to hear from each candidate about their plans to support the community in our national parliament,” he said.

Cr Erwin said he expected the Northern Grampians Shire community to raise issues including roads, water security, community services, infrastructure, connectivity, drought, mental health concerns, energy, jobs, housing and taxation.

People seeking further election information can visit Australian Electoral Commission website www.aec.gov.au.