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Russell Broadbent (Liberal), Deb Leonard (Ind) Jessica O'Donnell (ALP) and Mat Morgan (Greens)
By Catherine Watson
THE selection of a credible independent candidate has added an element of uncertainty to the federal election for voters in the very safe Liberal seat of Monash.
Voices for Monash, a citizen-led community group, has selected Deb Leonard, a Phillip Island small business owner and lawyer, as their candidate.
Ms Leonard will be looking to unsettle veteran Liberal MP Russell Broadbent who has held the seat for 23 of the past 32 years. Aged 71, Mr Broadbent surprised many when he announced he wanted another term despite never attaining high or even middling office.
His anti-vax stance could hurt him in an electorate that is 95 per cent vaccinated. Since announcing last October that he was uncomfortable with aspects of Australia’s vaccination program, and suspicious of the vaccines themselves, he has kept a low profile. He has not responded to questions on his Facebook page about whether he has been vaccinated.
It’s not the first time Mr Broadbent has marched to a different beat. As his party went hard on “boat people”, he crossed the floor several times in support of a more humane refugee policy. He also voted against marriage equality in 2019 despite more than 70 per cent of Monash electors voting yes in the plebiscite.
It’s not the first time Mr Broadbent has marched to a different beat. As his party went hard on “boat people”, he crossed the floor several times in support of a more humane refugee policy. He also voted against marriage equality in 2019 despite more than 70 per cent of Monash electors voting yes in the plebiscite.
Neither stance hurt him at the 2019 election, with daylight between him and the ALP contender Jessica O’Donnell. Mr Broadbent recorded 46.3 per cent of the primary vote, almost enough to take it on his own, and ended up with 57.4 per cent of the two-party preferred vote.
Ms O’Donnell, a former Baw Baw Shire councillor, has returned for another go but it seems unlikely an ALP candidate can win such a safe Liberal seat.
However, the huge gap between the two major parties gives an independent with a profile and a good campaign a chance to slip through.
Ms O’Donnell, a former Baw Baw Shire councillor, has returned for another go but it seems unlikely an ALP candidate can win such a safe Liberal seat.
However, the huge gap between the two major parties gives an independent with a profile and a good campaign a chance to slip through.
Monash electorate
The Monash electorate (formerly McMillan) consists of Bass Coast, Baw Baw and South Gippsland shires, Moe-Newborough in the City of Latrobe, and very small parts of Cardinia and Yarra Ranges Shires.
It has traditionally been a very safe Liberal seat. Koo Wee Rup and Lang Lang (both of which recorded a strong Liberal vote in 2019) were removed from electorate in last year’s redistribution, making the seat slightly more marginal.
It has traditionally been a very safe Liberal seat. Koo Wee Rup and Lang Lang (both of which recorded a strong Liberal vote in 2019) were removed from electorate in last year’s redistribution, making the seat slightly more marginal.
Disaffected Liberal and ALP voters may feel comfortable enough to vote for an independent.
If Ms Leonard gets ahead of the Greens and the other minor parties, she would probably pick up most of the preferences from the Greens and the “anything but Labor” parties, including Pauline Hanson’s One Nation and Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party.
It gives her an outside chance of knocking off the ALP, which scored just 29.5 per cent of the primary vote in 2019. And if she does that, she would probably win the election.
The Greens have selected Mat Morgan, a Foster student, musician and climate activist who stood for South Gippsland Shire Council at last year’s election.
In the 2019 election, the Greens secured 7 per cent of the vote, slightly behind One Nation’s 7.6 per cent. United Australia got 4 per cent.
The United Australia Party and One Nation are expected to contest all seats but are yet to announce candidates for Monash.
The Post will run questionnaires and candidate profiles once the election is called. It must be held on or before May 21.
If Ms Leonard gets ahead of the Greens and the other minor parties, she would probably pick up most of the preferences from the Greens and the “anything but Labor” parties, including Pauline Hanson’s One Nation and Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party.
It gives her an outside chance of knocking off the ALP, which scored just 29.5 per cent of the primary vote in 2019. And if she does that, she would probably win the election.
The Greens have selected Mat Morgan, a Foster student, musician and climate activist who stood for South Gippsland Shire Council at last year’s election.
In the 2019 election, the Greens secured 7 per cent of the vote, slightly behind One Nation’s 7.6 per cent. United Australia got 4 per cent.
The United Australia Party and One Nation are expected to contest all seats but are yet to announce candidates for Monash.
The Post will run questionnaires and candidate profiles once the election is called. It must be held on or before May 21.
Voters of Monash, please think before you vote. Consider the status quo, and, do you really want more of the same from Russel? What has he actually done in his tenure that has been personally life changing for you in a positive way?
I’m not advocating voting in a particular way. Rather, I’m suggesting we think about the issues, the achievements of the candidates, the future of our now trashed country’s international reputation and finally the future of our children.
Vote constructively, not habitually.
I'm grateful to all the candidates for standing and giving us a real choice. Thank you and good luck.
“Liberal MP Russell Broadbent, who is unvaccinated to COVID-19, has declared he took the horse de-wormer ivermectin when he contracted the coronavirus last month.
Mr Broadbent, from the southeast Victorian seat of Monash, made the disclosure on the floor of Parliament this afternoon to emphasise his support for the anti-vaccine mandate protesters who met in Canberra over the weekend.
“All those demonstrators were talking about choice, freedom,” Mr Broadbent said.
Mr Broadbent said he wasn’t worried about his COVID-19 diagnosis on January 21, due to the various vitamins and supplements he was on. He said he also took the horse de-wormer ivermectin for five days.
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has banned the off-label prescribing of ivermectin, citing the public health risk and national shortages created by an increase in prescriptions. Ivermectin is not among the treatments, listed here, approved by the TGA to treat the coronavirus.
Mr Broadbent is one of a growing number of conservative parliamentarians to criticise vaccine mandates, including United Australia Party leader Craig Kelly and Queensland Liberal National George Christensen.
“I am not vaccinated, and I won’t be vaccinated because my view was to be vaccinated was just as high as the risk that I was taking to get the virus itself,” Mr Broadbent said.
“I had to make a decision, I made a decision on my behalf.”
(By Angus Thompson, The Age 14/2/22)
Good to see that Mr Broadbent is consistent. He didn't vote on behalf of his electorate on the Marriage Equality legislation.