Five candidates vie for Narracan
An independent candidate will take top place on the ballot paper in the Narracan electorate for next week’s state election.
Five candidates nominated for the Narracan electorate and independent Guss Lambden drew top position at Friday’s ballot draw.
The remaining candidates, in ballot paper order, include sitting member Gary Blackwood (Liberal), William Hornstra (Australian Greens), Carlo Ierfone (independent) and Christine Maxfield (ALP).
Mr Lambden, who was not present at Friday’s draw, was pleased to be on top of the ticket but admitted candidates in the top position really only benefitted from the minority of voters who took the easy option.
Mr Lambden said he had gained a good response from people in the electorate who wanted to vote for someone other than the major parties.
“I hope people are willing to look at an independent knowing that our beliefs are our own, without being told what to say or how to vote,” he said.
Mr Blackwood said he did not place a lot of importance on the ballot paper order.
While holding the seat with an 11.3 per cent margin, Mr Blackwood said he never took elections for granted.
He said he was confident the Liberals had made some good announcements for the electorate that addressed genuine needs of the community, particularly a commitment to a new West Gippsland Hospital.
Mr Hornstra said the Greens and its policies had been well received around the electorate. “People are looking for change and people know climate change is an issue that needs tackling and we are doing that.”
He said he did not give much weight to the ballot draw, saying “I trust the people of Narracan to make an informed decision.”
As one of two independents, Mr Ierfone said it was important to have independent candidates in elections to “stir up” the major parties.
He said he had lived in the area for 20 years and wanted to give people a choice when they voted. “People will vote how they want on the day, it doesn’t matter about the draw,” he said.
Ms Maxfield, who has previously stood against Federal Member for McMillan Russell Broadbent at two federal elections, said she was focussed on campaigning strongly over the next two weeks leading to election day.
She said health, education and the need for more kindergartens in Warragul and Drouin had emerged as priority issues for locals.
At the last state election in 2014, Mr Blackwood obtained 55 per cent of the primary vote and 61 per cent of the two-party preferred.
In its 51-year history, Narracan has been held by a Labor member for a sevenyear period between 1999 and 2006, when Ms Maxfield’s husband Ian was elected, and re-elected for a second term.
A record number of candidates have nominated for the upper house seat of Eastern Victoria Region, with 46 candidates representing 19 political parties and one independent.
The Eastern Victoria Region positions are currently held by the ALP’s Harriet Shing and Daniel Mulino, the Liberals’ Edward O’Donohue, The Nationals Melina Bath and the Shooters and Fishers Party Jeffrey Bourman.
Ms Shing will not take top position of the ALP’s upper house ticket, with the top spot on the ballot paper going to Jane Garrett.
Both the ALP, Australian Greens and Liberal/Nationals will have five candidates each for the upper house, with the Greens’ top candidate being Tom Cummings of Berwick.
The Liberal/Nationals ticket is headed by sitting members Edward O’Donohue and Melina Bath.
Other parties represented on the upper house ticket include Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party; Fiona Patten’s Reason Party; Hudson 4 NV; Health Australia Party; Victorian Socialists; Shooters, Fishers and Farmers; Sustainable Australia; Labour DLP; Australian Country Party; Animal Justice Party; and Transport Matters.
The only independent candidate in the upper house is Yarragon businessman Michael Fozard.
Among the locals standing for the upper house are Rhonda Crooks of Trafalgar (Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party), Carmel Close of Warragul (Fiona Patten’s Reason Party), Lachlan McKenzie of Bunyip North (Greens) and Padraig O’Hea (Labour DLP).
The Animal Justice Party drew top position on the upper house ballot paper at Friday’s draw.
Voting opened yesterday for early voting at designated voting centres. Applications for postal votes are now open, and close at 6pm on November 21.
* Next week’s Gazette will feature candidate profiles of all candidates in the Narracan electorate.