By Catherine Watson
WHEN you note a cavalcade of senior politicians on the Bass Highway, you know we’re living in a very marginal electorate. And that’s good news for Bass Coast with the prospect of a political bidding war before the November state election.
With visits by the leaders of the Labor, Liberal and National parties in recent weeks, it’s clear that the seat of Bass is in the balance.
WHEN you note a cavalcade of senior politicians on the Bass Highway, you know we’re living in a very marginal electorate. And that’s good news for Bass Coast with the prospect of a political bidding war before the November state election.
With visits by the leaders of the Labor, Liberal and National parties in recent weeks, it’s clear that the seat of Bass is in the balance.
It’s a turnaround for local voters who were largely ignored by the major parties as long as Bass was a safe Liberal seat. It was held by the Liberal Party from the time it was created in 2002 until Labor’s Jordan Crugnale secured a 7 per swing in 2018 to win the seat for the ALP for the first time.
The Labor Government has poured money into the electorate since 2016 with a succession of major projects, including a $115 million Wonthaggi Hospital rebuild, a $60 million upgrade of the Penguin Parade, a Phillip Island health centre, Wonthaggi Secondary College’s new senior campus and a junior campus at San Remo.
The margin in 2018 was 2.39 per cent, and it is now considered to be even closer following a redistribution, which removes the urban (strongly Labor-voting) area of Pakenham from the electorate. And a double conservative challenge will be creating a few nerves about retaining the seat.
Premier Daniel Andrews was in Wonthaggi at the end of May to visit Wonthaggi Hospital, the Labor Government’s flagship project in Bass Coast.
The visit gave plenty of photo opportunities and a much-needed boost to Ms Crugnale who faces a double election challenge from the Coalition with both the Liberal Party and the National Party having announced candidates. This is the first time the National Party has fielded a candidate in Bass.
Victoria’s Liberal Party Leader Matthew Guy made the trek from Melbourne on Wednesday to announce a $6 million commitment to tackling Inverloch’s coastal erosion if the Coalition wins government in November.
Bass Coast Mayor Michael Whelan was delighted by the announcement. “We’re after $12 million to tackle coastal erosion in the shire and this is a very good start. I hope the Government will match it.”
In attendance at the Inverloch Surf Lifesaving Club with Mr Guy were the Liberal Party candidate, Aaron Brown, and the National Party’s Brett Tessari.
A visit to Wonthaggi last month by National Party leader Peter Walsh showed that they are not just there to support the Liberal candidate but believe they have a chance of winning the seat.
Mr Walsh promised that if elected the Coalition would guarantee that 25 per cent of all new State Government infrastructure spending would go to the regions, in line with the population.
He will return to Bass Coast next week to meet local farmers and other community groups in a move that shows the party is serious about backing their high-profile candidate, a popular Bass Coast councillor and former mayor.
San Remo resident Jeni Jobe is standing as an independent candidate on a platform of increased support for arts and culture and community infrastructure, along with stronger protection of Western Port and the woodlands.
The Greens expect to announce their candidate next week.
The Labor Government has poured money into the electorate since 2016 with a succession of major projects, including a $115 million Wonthaggi Hospital rebuild, a $60 million upgrade of the Penguin Parade, a Phillip Island health centre, Wonthaggi Secondary College’s new senior campus and a junior campus at San Remo.
The margin in 2018 was 2.39 per cent, and it is now considered to be even closer following a redistribution, which removes the urban (strongly Labor-voting) area of Pakenham from the electorate. And a double conservative challenge will be creating a few nerves about retaining the seat.
Premier Daniel Andrews was in Wonthaggi at the end of May to visit Wonthaggi Hospital, the Labor Government’s flagship project in Bass Coast.
The visit gave plenty of photo opportunities and a much-needed boost to Ms Crugnale who faces a double election challenge from the Coalition with both the Liberal Party and the National Party having announced candidates. This is the first time the National Party has fielded a candidate in Bass.
Victoria’s Liberal Party Leader Matthew Guy made the trek from Melbourne on Wednesday to announce a $6 million commitment to tackling Inverloch’s coastal erosion if the Coalition wins government in November.
Bass Coast Mayor Michael Whelan was delighted by the announcement. “We’re after $12 million to tackle coastal erosion in the shire and this is a very good start. I hope the Government will match it.”
In attendance at the Inverloch Surf Lifesaving Club with Mr Guy were the Liberal Party candidate, Aaron Brown, and the National Party’s Brett Tessari.
A visit to Wonthaggi last month by National Party leader Peter Walsh showed that they are not just there to support the Liberal candidate but believe they have a chance of winning the seat.
Mr Walsh promised that if elected the Coalition would guarantee that 25 per cent of all new State Government infrastructure spending would go to the regions, in line with the population.
He will return to Bass Coast next week to meet local farmers and other community groups in a move that shows the party is serious about backing their high-profile candidate, a popular Bass Coast councillor and former mayor.
San Remo resident Jeni Jobe is standing as an independent candidate on a platform of increased support for arts and culture and community infrastructure, along with stronger protection of Western Port and the woodlands.
The Greens expect to announce their candidate next week.