Seven candidates have put their hands up to contest Monash in the federal election.
By Catherine Watson
AFTER years of being ignored by both major parties, Monash voters can at last expect to see some election promises coming our way. The seat has been a Liberal Party stronghold since 2004 but the ALP came within 2.6% of securing it in 2022.
Fortunately the federal Government isn't as broke as the state one, so there is money in the war chest for some serious commitments.
The seat is anyone’s this time with the conservative vote to be split amongst the Liberal and National parties and two high-profile independent candidates, including current MP Russell Broadbent.
The ALP, Greens, Family First and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation parties have all announced their candidates in the past 10 days. Now all we need is the Prime Minister to fire the starting gun.
AFTER years of being ignored by both major parties, Monash voters can at last expect to see some election promises coming our way. The seat has been a Liberal Party stronghold since 2004 but the ALP came within 2.6% of securing it in 2022.
Fortunately the federal Government isn't as broke as the state one, so there is money in the war chest for some serious commitments.
The seat is anyone’s this time with the conservative vote to be split amongst the Liberal and National parties and two high-profile independent candidates, including current MP Russell Broadbent.
The ALP, Greens, Family First and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation parties have all announced their candidates in the past 10 days. Now all we need is the Prime Minister to fire the starting gun.
Mr Broadbent has held Monash (formerly McMillan) for 26 of the past 35 years and continuously since 2004. He went Independent after local Liberal Party members chose Mary Aldred to replace him.
The Conservative vote is a three-way split with the National Party taking a rare opportunity to contest the seat of Monash since there is no incumbent Coalition MP.
The big question is whether Mr Broadbent is angry enough with the Liberal Party to direct his preferences to the National Party candidate.
The electorate is certainly in National Party territory with Darren Chester a popular National MP for the adjoining federal seat of Gippsland and the Nationals’ Victorian leader Danny O’Brien holding the state seat of South Gippsland.
Some conservative votes are also likely to flow to independent Deb Leonard. She stood at the 2022 election under the Voices for Monash moniker and secured 11 per cent of the vote.
That’s certain to increase this time. She’s been campaigning full time since July last year and has developed a strong support base with over 100 volunteers the length and breadth of the electorate.
The Greens picked up 9.6% at the 2022 election but that will fall, as they acknowledge themselves. Many of their volunteers have jumped ship to support independent Deb Leonard – and presumably many voters will as well.
“We are happy to see a strong independent candidate putting up a good fight,” a Bass Coast Greens spokesperson said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese must give at least 33 days’ notice of the election and it must take place on or before May 17.
THE CANDIDATES
The Conservative vote is a three-way split with the National Party taking a rare opportunity to contest the seat of Monash since there is no incumbent Coalition MP.
The big question is whether Mr Broadbent is angry enough with the Liberal Party to direct his preferences to the National Party candidate.
The electorate is certainly in National Party territory with Darren Chester a popular National MP for the adjoining federal seat of Gippsland and the Nationals’ Victorian leader Danny O’Brien holding the state seat of South Gippsland.
Some conservative votes are also likely to flow to independent Deb Leonard. She stood at the 2022 election under the Voices for Monash moniker and secured 11 per cent of the vote.
That’s certain to increase this time. She’s been campaigning full time since July last year and has developed a strong support base with over 100 volunteers the length and breadth of the electorate.
The Greens picked up 9.6% at the 2022 election but that will fall, as they acknowledge themselves. Many of their volunteers have jumped ship to support independent Deb Leonard – and presumably many voters will as well.
“We are happy to see a strong independent candidate putting up a good fight,” a Bass Coast Greens spokesperson said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese must give at least 33 days’ notice of the election and it must take place on or before May 17.
THE CANDIDATES
 Independent – Russell Broadbent believes his opposition to mandatory Covid vaccines cost him the party’s pre-selection this time round. The MP for Monash (formerly McMillan) since 2004, the maverick MP is hard to pigeonhole with a mix of conservative and progressive views. He believes fossil fuels will continue to be the bedrock of energy production and that nuclear energy should be part of the mix. He will pick up the anti-vaxxer vote but lose the anti-anti-vaxxers. He has a strong personal following in Warragul and Drouin and you can’t count him out.  Labor – Tully Fletcher grew up in Wonthaggi and now lives at Kilcunda. He worked as executive officer to the university’s chancellor, former federal minister Gareth Evans. He was senior adviser to the Victorian Attorney-General from 2014-2019 before joining Deloitte Australia where he is now a business practice area lead. He says Monash voters have missed out in federal funding under the current MP Russell Broadbent. His chances depend on how much money the ALP is prepared to throw at the seat. Some serious election promises could carry the day.  Greens - Terence Steele is a semi-retired teacher from Kardella South with family ties to the engineering and railway industries of South Gippsland. He has owned a small patch of land in South Gippsland for over 20 years. Climate action is a strong motivator for his decision to stand. “The beautiful region that we call home is under threat from climate inaction by both major parties. I became aware of the devastating effects as an avid gardener and recognised that to effect real change, I needed to get involved.” National Party – candidate selected but yet to be announced. The Nationals have an outside chance if they pick up Broadbent’s preferences. |  Liberal Party - Mary Aldred is a Liberal Party blueblood with a background in farming and business. Her father was a long-standing federal Liberal MP. She was the inaugural CEO of the Committee for Gippsland and recently resigned as Fujitsu’s head of corporate affairs for the Asia Pacific to campaign full time. She lists improving the roads network throughout the Monash electorate as a priority issue. She will pick up the party faithful and a strong personal vote in Baw Baw Shire, but Russell Broadbent’s candidacy is a complicating factor.  Independent – Deb Leonard stood at the 2022 election under the Voices for Monash moniker and picked up 11 per cent of the vote. A lawyer based on Phillip Island, she’s been campaigning full time since July. She says her policies have been shaped directly by feedback from Monash residents. Top of the list is a new hospital in West Gippsland to service the rapidly growing Baw Baw Shire. She also puts integrity and transparency in politics as priorities. She will have a strong Bass Coast vote but can she make an impression in the rest of the electorate?  Family First - Geoff Dethlefs is a retired school teacher, principal and pastor. He has lived in the Monash electorate for the past 19 years. He believes baseload power should come from coal, gas or hydro and nuclear power should be explored. “The slight warming of the planet is a cyclic matter. It will cool again … destroying our environment and prime farmland recklessly in the pursuit of a ridiculously expensive woke dream is disastrous for our economy and future.”  One Nation – Kuljeet Robinson gives a Queensland postal address. She states that she is standing to ensure that regional communities like those in Monash receive the attention and investment they deserve. |