With only 100 days until the state election, things are off to a slow start in the three electorates on the Mornington Peninsula, with only a handful of candidates expressing their intention to challenge.
In Nepean, incumbent Anthony Marsh heads into his second election campaign in six months with a handy 13.24% margin, after his by-election win in May.
There will be at least one familiar face on the hustings, with his by-election opponent Darren Hercus contesting the seat again for One Nation.
Hercus told The News “I am both honoured and humbled to have been re-endorsed by One Nation for Nepean at the upcoming state election”.
“I’m looking forward to the campaign ahead and to the challenges it will bring. Most importantly, I look forward to listening to the people of Nepean, standing up for our community and working hard to deliver the change that we all need.”
Labor, which didn’t contest the by-election in May due to a long-held convention of not contesting by-elections in seats they don’t hold, still don’t appear to have selected a candidate for Nepean or Mornington.
A Labor insider told The News they believed the leadership spill and subsequent resignations have meant a “pivot” has been required.
Independent Tracee Hutchison, while vowing to recontest the seat after her loss to Marsh in the by-election, decided against contesting the November poll.
In fact, the Independents for Mornington Peninsula, who endorsed Tracee in May, have told The News they will not be fielding a candidate in Nepean or Hastings at all as they concentrate their effort on the Mornington electorate.
In Mornington, Liberal Chris Crewther won the seat in 2022 with only a 0.7% margin, just 590 votes, against independent candidate Kate Lardner in the two-candidate-preferred race.
Crewther was well ahead on first preferences in the 2022 poll with 17910 votes (42.58%) with Lardner coming is second with 9432 votes (22.42%) and Labor’s Georgia Fowler coming in third with 9246 votes (21.98%). Preferences worked in Lardner’s favour getting her close, but falling just short.
Independents for Mornington Peninsula have announced they have endorsed a candidate for the Mornington contest, likely favouring the seat due to how close the independent came in 2022.
An email sent to Independents for Mornington Peninsula supporters on Monday (17 August) announced the selection of the candidate with her identity to be revealed soon.
“During a rigorous selection process, the candidate impressed the selection panel with her background in local business, education and advocacy, and her strong commitment to social justice, climate action and gender equity,” the email stated.
“She is an active community leader and advocate who will represent her electorate with determination, underpinned by the essential skills developed over years of service to the community in her fields.”
As mentioned previously, Labor is yet to announce a candidate for the seat of Mornington.
Also running in Mornington will be a yet-to-be-revealed One Nation candidate.
One Nation’s campaign co-ordinator for the eastern region, Harry Mulry, told The News that candidates for Mornington and Hastings have been selected and would be announced soon.
“I think people will really like them,” said Mulry.
“We head-hunted people from within their local communities rather than anyone in the political sphere. People with real-life skills and experience that will create a real change we can apply when we form government.”
Over in Hastings, Labor’s Paul Mercurio holds the seat with a slim 1.35% margin after beating Liberal Briony Hutton in 2022.
The seat had been held by Liberal Neale Burgess since 2006 before he decided not to recontest in 2022. With no incumbent, Mercurio managing to flip the seat to Labor.
Mercurio told The News “I have a lot more to do, finishing things I have been working on during my term”.
Mercurio will face Liberal candidate Frank Schiefler who has been campaigning since being pre-selected in April.
Schiefler told The News “I want to get the 24-hour police station in Hastings. I want to fix the potholes, and we’re committing $5b to fix 1,000,000 potholes. And I want to get Western Port the investment that it desperately deserves”.
Apart from the yet-to-be-named One Nation candidate, the only other candidate having announce their intention to run in Hastings is Chloe Coulson from the Animal Justice Party. Coulson told The News that the party is working on a number of local issues that they are planning to take action on.
