Independents are top on ballot card
Two independent candidates will head the ballot paper of seven candidates when residents go to the polls for the May 18 federal election.
Pre-polling opened yesterday for early voters.
At Wednesday’s ballot draw, AEC divisional office manager Darren McNair confirmed seven candidates had nominated for the newly named Monash electorate.
The candidates, in ballot paper order, include: independent John Verhoeven of Moe; independent Michael Fozard of Trafalgar; Jeff Waddell of Cockatoo (Pauline Hansen’s One Nation); Jessica O’Donnell of Drouin (ALP); William Hornstra of Moe (Greens); Russell Broadbent of Pakenham (Liberal); and, Matthew Sherry of Foster (United Australia Party).
This is the first election for Monash, that was renamed following a redistribution of boundaries last year.
Sitting Liberal member Russell Broadbent will face his eighth election for the seat, previously known as McMillan.
The redistribution means Mr Broadbent no longer lives in the electorate.
The two independent candidates welcomed the top of the ballot paper.
Mr Verhoeven said he was very happy with his number one spot on the card, although wasn’t completely confident how many people voted down the card.
“If there’s a donkey vote though you might as well be in the top position to get it,” he said.
Mr Fozard said the positioning of the two independents together at the top of the card may go against them and it would have been better to be separated.
“If I had my way, I would have got the top…but second is better than sixth,” he said.
Both Mr Fozard and Mr Verhoeven have indicated they are standing as independents to offer people a choice, saying voters were disillusioned with the major parties.
Mr Verhoeven previously stood for state election as a Nationals candidate in 2006 while Mr Fozard, a former Baw Baw Shire councillor, stood at last year’s state election.
The Liberals currently hold the seat with an eight per cent margin.
Mr Broadbent won the seat from the ALP’s Barry Cunningham in 1996.
After serving one term, he was defeated by ALP candidate Christian Zahra at the 1998 election.
He was re-elected in 2004 and has served as Member for McMillan for 15 years.
Mr Broadbent said he never took an election campaign for granted.
“I realise I am fighting very hard for every vote cast in this election,” he said.
If elected, Ms O’Donnell, who is on leave from Baw Baw Shire councillor duties, will be the first woman to hold office in the Monash (McMillan) electorate.
She believes people are ready for a change. “We’ve been left behind in Monash for a long time. We need a community representative that works just as hard for their community as the community works for the community.”
Mr Hornstra was the Greens candidate at the 2018 state election when he received six per cent of the primary vote.
Mr Sherry also has previously stood as a federal candidate in 2013 for the Palmer United Party.
Mr Waddell has had a low profile in this election. He was absent from Wednesday’s ballot draw and did not respond to calls from The Gazette.
The 2016 election saw a 2.5 per cent swing against Mr Broadbent.
ALP candidate Chris Buckingham recorded a 4.2 swing per cent to the party while The Greens recorded a two per cent swing.
No independents contested the seat.
Voting open
Pre-poll voting opened yesterday for residents wanting to cast their votes early.
The Warragul pre-poll centre is located at the former St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School year nine centre at 57 Sutton St.
Pre-poll centres will open in Moe and Wonthaggi next Monday (May 6) and at Cowes on May 13.
Residents also can apply for postal votes online.