Allies face off
THE conservative parties will go head to head in a tussle for the seat of Gippsland South.
The by-election triggered by the resignation of former MLA Peter Ryan will be held on Saturday, March 14.
Candidates must be confirmed by this week.
At the time of printing, The Greens had named Andrea Millsom of Loch, the Liberals Cr Scott Rossetti of Sale and The Nationals Danny O’Brien, also of Sale.
Labor is yet to announce if it will contest the by-election, despite recording a 6.9 per cent swing at the state election in November with a candidate from Melbourne largely unknown in the electorate.
Cr Rossetti, a councillor with Wellington Shire Council, said the Liberals had decided to run against their coalition partners to give the community a choice.
“The reason we have a great outcome for the (Leongatha) hospital and the (Leongatha secondary) school is that we had a strong advocate (Peter Ryan), but also someone who could convince the rest of the Coalition,” he said.
Mr O’Brien, who will this week resign as The Nationals’ Eastern Victoria Region MLC, said he was not fazed by the Liberals pursuing the traditionally safe Nationals’ seat.
“The entry of the other candidate (Cr Rossetti) confirmed what I have always been saying and that is it will be a tight by-election and particularly with a high profile Liberal, in the Wellington Shire at least, we are going to have to fight for it,” Mr O’Brien said.
The Liberals upset their Coalition partners by running against The Nationals in the seat of Euroa at the 2014 election, and now reports are circulating about discontent in the Nationals’ party room over the Liberals’ pursuit of Gippsland South.
The seat is considered a jewel in The Nationals’ crown, having been held by former member and party leader Mr Ryan since 1992.
Both conservative candidates criticised the State Government’s abolition of the Coalition’s $160 million Country Roads and Bridges Program, and vowed to work hard to ensure the region receives a fair share of roads funding.
Electoral commissioner Warwick Gately said registered political parties must nominate their endorsed candidates by noon on Thursday directly with the VEC at Level 11, 530 Collins Street, Melbourne.
For independent candidates, a completed nomination form must be lodged with election manager Janine Taylor by noon on Friday, February 27 at the election office at 1 Church Street, Leongatha.
A ballot draw to determine the position of the candidates on the ballot paper will take place at the election office after 1pm this Friday.
Details of nominated candidates will be progressively published on the VEC website.
For independent candidates, a completed nomination form must be lodged. A nomination deposit of $350 applies to all nominations.
Candidates are encouraged to pre-fill their nomination form at vec.vic.gov.au using the Candidate Helper. Candidates must, however, deliver their printed barcoded nomination form and deposit for final processing before the deadline.
An information session for independent candidates will be held at the election office at 4pm today (Tuesday, February 24).
Nomination forms and the candidate handbook are available online at vec.vic.gov.au or by contacting the election manager on 5662 0522.
Conservative showdown: The Nationals candidate for Gippsland South Danny O’Brien (left) and the Liberals candidate Scott Rossetti wish other all the best for the by-election in Leongatha last Friday.
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Posted by Tayla Kershaw on Feb 24 2015. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
