IT is less than two months until the state election on 28 November, and state parliament has wrapped up.
The change frees up, to an extent, the incumbents of Hastings, Mornington and Nepean to get back to their electorates and put more time into campaigning.
In Hastings, Paul Mercurio faces an up-hill battle against Liberal candidate Frank Schiefler and One Nation’s Peter Angelico.
In a social media post on Thursday, Mercurio said: “I’ve got to say it’s been a real privilege and honour to have been a part of the 60th Parliament of Victoria”.
“I never really thought I’d be doing this but thank you very much to everyone who has supported me in being here.
“I’m really happy with what we’ve achieved over the last four years and I have to say I am really looking forward to continuing achieving things for the electorate of Hastings in the 61st parliament.”
In Mornington, incumbent Chris Crewther will now be able to spend more time in the electorate, freed from Spring Street duties.
In a social media video, he said: “It’s been a real privilege to serve the Mornington electoral community over the last four years here in parliament, but also out and about in the community”.
“We’ve worked hand-in-hand together on community issues, and also worked to resolve thousands of issues for local constituents, residents and Victorians.
“I look forward to hopefully working with you, hand in hand, into the future as well.
“We’ve had a government now that has been in power for 12 years in a row and 23 of the last 27 years.
“Victorians and local people are calling for a change.”
Crewther also announced on social media that an elected Liberal and National government would invest an additional $10m over four years to support Victoria’s Neighbourhood Houses, including a new $6m growth fund for areas that need new or expanded services.
“This will help these vital community hubs keep their doors open and continue supporting Victorians with food relief, social connection, education, volunteering and practical help during a cost of living crisis,” said Crewther.
Independent candidate Melissa Goffin invited volunteers to a pizza party and soft launch of her new campaign office at 187 Main Street, Mornington. Volunteers had the chance to meet one another, learn how they can get involved and share the issues that matter most to their community.
Goffin met with the Mornington Peninsula Shire last week to better understand its priorities and the challenges facing the local community. She discussed the importance of Mornington getting its fair share — including infrastructure that keeps pace with growth, better roads and traffic management, thoughtful planning that accommodates appropriate growth while protecting what makes Mornington special, and greater attention to community facilities and local groups. Melissa also advocated to support small businesses and make it easier for them to operate and thrive.
The other independent candidate, Adrian Maher, was deep in potholes last week.
“We know it’s a huge issue. And we know the current solutions are not working. We also know that these promises to ‘replace every road’ are fanciful in a state drowning in debt,” said Maher.
“Instead we have been looking globally for solutions. We have been in contact with JCB from the UK – about purchasing a number of their revolutionary Pothole Pro Machines.
“These high tech machines travel at 40km an hour and fix each pothole permanently in under eight minutes – first time.
“This delivers a great solution for everyone quickly and cost effectively. Without major road disruption and billions of dollars.
Labor is yet to announce a candidate for either the Mornington or Nepean electorates.
Newly-minted state member Anthony Marsh will be able to increase local campaigning now parliament has ended. He has already been out and about, but with the cessation of Spring Street duties, will be based full-time in his electorate for the next eight weeks.
Nepean independent candidate Kim Robbins has launched her campaign office dubbed “The Robbins Nest”.
“On Monday I signed the lease on Shop 8 at 35 Wannaeue Place in Rosebud, our new campaign headquarters, the Robbins Nest,” said Robbins.
“The shop had been vacant for two years and certainly had the dust to prove it.
“Volunteers spent Tuesday and Friday scrubbing, painting and bringing in donated furniture. Watching an empty shop begin to turn into a busy community campaign base was one of the best moments of my week.”
First published in the Mornington News – 29 September 2026
