WITH less than 70 days until the state election, candidates have begun campaigning for the seat of Mornington.
There are currently four candidates that have indicated they will contest the poll, with Labor planning to contest, but not having announced a candidate yet.
Incumbent 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 17,910 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.
Crewther told The News: “This term, I’ve worked with residents, local organisations and my Liberal and Nationals colleagues to turn community concerns into results”.
“These include fighting for the new Mornington-Hastings bus service and bus connections to Beleura Village, Peninsula Grange and previously unserved neighbourhoods; helping stop the paid-parking trial; and helping relocate the Harry Potter event outside The Briars’ wildlife sanctuary.
“Together with my team, I’ve helped thousands of constituents with housing, health, education, transport and government services. This work is often unseen but crucial. Resolving a problem, accessing support or simply being heard can make an enormous difference.”
Labor have not selected a candidate for Mornington yet. A Labor insider told The News the party would be contesting the poll.
One Nation’s Ashli Beards has begun to ramp up her campaign telling The News she has met with the shire to discuss their advocacy priorities, and to see where One Nation can support community needs in areas like infrastructure and housing.
Beards was on Main Street Mornington last week speaking to residents and business owners, and is preparing to go full swing into campaigning this week.
Climate 200 announced last week they would be supporting the Independents for Mornington Peninsula endorsed candidate Melissa Goffin.
Goffin was one of three independents the organisation announced it would be backing in the poll along with Sophie Torney (running in Kew against Liberal leader Jess Wilson) and Shima Ibuki (running in Hawthorn against former Liberal leader John Pesutto).
“I have recently received the support of C200 as an independent candidate for Mornington. I’m grateful for the attention they bring to issues of integrity, climate and gender equity. These are issues I’m also concerned about,” said Goffin.
“Their support of the maximum individual contribution of $10,300 helps close the gap independents face when trying to reach voters against party machines funded by big corporations, unions and lobbyists contributing millions of dollar per campaign. There’s a lot of work to do to create a fair playing field, and I’m eager to get stuck in for our community.
“After 40 years of the same party holding this seat, our roads and schools are neglected, our small businesses are drowning, and our families are struggling to make ends meet. I’m looking forward to being the change this community so desperately needs.
“My priorities are clear: fighting for our fair share and giving Mornington’s needs a seat at the table. I’ve heard the same from the many people who’ve stopped by my campaign office on Main Street this past week, where we’re capturing what matters most to Mornington”.
Adrian Maher is also running as an independent candidate for the seat, based on a platform of “10 peninsula promises”.
Maher was born and raised on the peninsula. His father, Edwin Maher, was a well-known weatherman on the ABC for many years, and his mother Robyn was a dedicated community worker on the peninsula before her untimely death, due to a brain tumour, aged just 56.
One of Maher’s “10 peninsula promises” is a high-speed commuter ferry between Mornington and Melbourne.
“My proposal to deliver two high-speed commuter ferries linking Mornington with Melbourne in around 40 minutes has received an extraordinary response from local residents,” said Maher.
“This week I took the proposal directly to Mornington Pier, speaking with people about what a fast, reliable alternative to the current journey could mean for their daily lives.
“The response was overwhelmingly positive.
“People want better connections, more choice and practical solutions, and most importantly, they want someone prepared to pursue them. The ferries are about more than getting from A to B; they are about opening up new opportunities for Mornington residents to work, study and do business in Melbourne without being trapped by the limitations of our current transport options.”
Nominations for the Victorian state election open on Wednesday 4 November and close on Monday 9 November, with the election being held on Saturday 28 November.
First published in the Mornington News – 22 September 2026
