Russell Broadbent is standing against the party he represented for 33 years. By Catherine Watson
INDEPENDENT Monash MP Russell Broadbent’s announcement that he will seek re-election at the age of 74 has thrown the contest for the seat of Monash wide open.
The election now features a blueblood Liberal candidate, two high-profile independents and a rare National Party candidate.
Unlike many of his colleagues, the long-time Liberal MP for Monash survived the backlash against the unpopular Morrison government at the 2022 election.
But in November 2023, at an early Liberal pre-selection vote, he polled just 16 votes to Mary Aldred's 160.
Mr Broadbent quit the party he had belonged to for almost half a century and moved to the crossbench, stating “This was a clear signal from members and one which I believe revokes my licence to represent the Liberal Party in the electorate of Monash."
INDEPENDENT Monash MP Russell Broadbent’s announcement that he will seek re-election at the age of 74 has thrown the contest for the seat of Monash wide open.
The election now features a blueblood Liberal candidate, two high-profile independents and a rare National Party candidate.
Unlike many of his colleagues, the long-time Liberal MP for Monash survived the backlash against the unpopular Morrison government at the 2022 election.
But in November 2023, at an early Liberal pre-selection vote, he polled just 16 votes to Mary Aldred's 160.
Mr Broadbent quit the party he had belonged to for almost half a century and moved to the crossbench, stating “This was a clear signal from members and one which I believe revokes my licence to represent the Liberal Party in the electorate of Monash."
He said then he would stand as an independent at the 2025 election but most believed that at the age of 74 he would call time.
Announcing his candidacy on Monday, Mr Broadbent said he had unfinished business. “I have spoken to many people from Monash who have called on me to stand for the seat of Monash in 2025.”
Announcing his candidacy on Monday, Mr Broadbent said he had unfinished business. “I have spoken to many people from Monash who have called on me to stand for the seat of Monash in 2025.”
| And he made a virtue of his independence. “I am answerable to you, the people. I am not motivated by towing the party lines or being a career politician.” Despite his long party membership, Mr Broadbent was a political maverick who was always difficult to categorise. He crossed the floor several times in support of asylum seekers, pushed for reform in indigenous affairs and spoke publicly about the need to increase welfare payments, against his own party’s policies. He was one of the few Liberal MPs to support an Aboriginal Voice to Parliament (though he later changed his mind and voted no after talking to a local elder). He voted no to marriage equality in 2018, despite 65 per cent of the Monash electorate voting yes. During the Covid pandemic he questioned the efficacy and safety of vaccines, becoming a folk hero to the anti-vaxx community but losing the support of many local party members. The great unknown is whether it will help or hinder him amongst Monash voters. Independent candidate Deb Leonard (running under the More for Monash moniker) welcomed the news of Mr Broadbent’s candidacy. “Any increase in choice is good for democracy. I would encourage all voters to look at what each candidate represents.” Asked whether it improved her chances, she said it would depend on how the preferences flowed. “I think Monash is going to be a seat to watch. I’m surprised the mainstream media hasn’t picked up on that.” As there is no incumbent Coalition MP, the National Party is taking a rare opportunity to contest the seat of Monash and is expected to announce their candidate very soon. Brett Tessari, who contested the state seat of Bass for the National Party in the 2022 Victorian election told the Post it wasn’t him. “I would love to have a crack because I think Monash is there for the taking – it really is very open – but I don’t want to go to Canberra!” The Labor Party and Greens have yet to announce their candidates for the Monash seat. They are both expected to run low-key campaigns, a move that may assist Leonard’s campaign. | Monash candidates  Liberal Party - Mary Aldred is a Liberal Party blueblood with a strong professional background. Her father was a long-standing Liberal MP. She was the inaugural CEO of the Committee for Gippsland and until last week was Fujitsu’s head of corporate affairs for the Asia Pacific. She will pick up the party faithful and a personal vote in Baw Baw Shire.  Independent – Russell Broadbent. Aged 74, the maverick MP has a strong personal following in Warragul and Drouin. He will pick up the anti-vaxxer vote but lose the anti-anti-vaxxers. A rough chance but the big question is whether he is angry enough with his former party to direct his preferences away from the Liberal candidate.  Independent – Deb Leonard stood at the 2022 election under the Voices for Monash moniker and picked up 11 per cent of the vote. She’s running a long and strong professional campaign. She will have a strong Bass Coast vote but can she make an impression in the rest of the electorate? National Party – candidate selected but yet to be announced. An outside chance. Darren Chester is a popular National MP for the adjoining federal seat of Gippsland and Danny O’Brien holds the state seat of South Gippsland for National. Will they pick up Broadbent’s preferences? Labor Party – nominations open. Jessica O’Donnell came within 2.9 per cent of knocking off Russell Broadbent at the 2022 election, making the seat officially marginal. O’Donnell is not contesting the seat this time and the very late selection suggests the Labor Party don’t believe they have the numbers given the expected backlash against Labor. Greens – nominations open. Mat Morgan picked up 9.6% at the 2022 election but is not contesting this one, having been elected a Bass Coast councillor last year. Ditto regarding the late selection. |