Asides
WESTERN FRONT: Old Liberal heartland in country Victoria still in play
A correspondent from Western Victoria writes:
The Liberals in Western Victoria have been fighting behind closed doors for some time about the selection of candidates.
Firstly, there was Hawthorn’s Daniel Tehan, who with the help of Denis Napthine easily beat nine other candidates to become the candidate for Wannon. Tehan may well be standing for one of the “jewel” seats, but the 7% margin would have a fair bit of support for David Hawker built in. While Hawker is no great personality, he is good on the ground and has been a half decent member.
One local paper the Pyrenees Advocate refers to Dan as the “Melbourne based candidate Daniel Tehan.” That has go to hurt in a seat which isn’t blue all the way through. Warrnambool, Portland, Hamilton, Beaufort, Snake Valley, Ararat, Pomonal etc all vote Labor so Tehan’s ride won’t be as easy as some presume. He is also receiving NO support whatsoever from Hawker. And just to add to his woes, Councillor Katrina Rainsford who was one of the nine unsuccessful preselection candidates, has quit the party is running as an independent against him, questioning his lack of local credentials. If Labor choses well, it could become another Corangamite. [VEXNEWS: One thing to watch for in Corangamite is the next federal redistribution due after the next election. Our mail is that it's likely to be highly unfavourable to Labor in the seat partly due to Corio being undersized and it most likely that Corio's boundary growing to include most of the Geelong outskirts and sea-change territory that are currently in Corangamite and were vital to Darren Cheeseman's election.]
Then we move on to Ripon. Three have put their hand up for the seat, boring Police Inspector Vic Dunn (who ran last time), the IPA’s Louise Staley and John Van Beveren. Vic is considered to be a village idiot and Louise, while capable, is a figure of some controversy with branches. John isn’t exactly Mr Dynamic, but he is presentable and decent. All three are confident they can knock off Ag Minister Joe Helper but they might find it is a bit harder than that. Local Liberals know they have a real fight on their hands.
Let’s be honest, Joe is no star Minister. He does the job but certainly hasn’t been great. However, on a local level Joe is very liked. He has (with the help of a healthy surplus inherited from Kennett) managed to secure a lot of good projects and infrastructure for Ripon. There wouldn’t be a town – large or small – that hasn’t received a boost from the enthusiastically pork-barrelling government. Most towns have new police stations, schools have been refurbished, new community halls have been built, passenger rail has been returned to Ararat and soon Maryborough. The largesse has been lavish. Add in the memories of the Kennett era cutbacks which seemed to unfairly target non-Melbourne Victoria and Joe might hang on.
My tip : John Van Beveren is the “safest” and least offensive candidate and will get up.
Discussion
9 comments for “WESTERN FRONT: Old Liberal heartland in country Victoria still in play”
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I agree that Joe is good locally. I don’t think he likes being a minister much but is very comfortable on the ground here in Ripon. Lets hope vile Louise Staley doesn’t get the nod for the Libs. Very unpopular!
Vic Dunn was a good candidate before and should be given a second chance!
Vic Dunn is a moron
Is The Age correct? I thought the ALP were on those nose in country Victoria? And not so everywhere else?
Whom do I believe?
But remember the streets of Ripon have been rolled in gold … Plus three strong Labor towns, Stawell, Maryborough and the Rat ..
I believe Stayley will win.
She has strong support from Avoca, Beaufort Stawell, and ofcourse Ararat. With two men fighting over the Maryborough members at the preselection (dec 11), I think Louise will have a better chance.
And I wouldn’t be suprised if one of the three candidates wrote the above and sent it into vexnews too.
Nah I’m much prettier than Vic and much thinner that John and I certainly wouldn’t look good in a frock. I don’t care who wins, but let me say Louise is a pure bitch and very unpopular.
It seems funny that the above article from ‘correspondant from western victoria’ focus on both Wannon and Ripon.
Funnily enough those are exactly the two seats Louise Stayley has tried (trying) for.
Thanks for the article Louise.
Obviously someone who really has no idea about the ground problems in Ripon…..”village idiot” referring to Vic Dunn, I am to understand that he has recently just earnt a 35 year Police Service medal, not usually given to a “village idiot” I would have thought Louise Staley would be a contender but doesn’t seem to have the true support and her antics arent helping and for John, havent heard much at all maybe that says something