FIVE candidates have nominated for the 2 May Nepean by-election with the Independents for Mornington Peninsula and Victorian Greens joining the Liberal Party, One Nation and Libertarians in the contest.
Mornington Peninsula-based broadcaster and journalist Tracee Hutchison will be standing as a community independent candidate, endorsed by the Independents for Mornington Peninsula. Hutchison, who was born, raised, and lives in Rosebud, said she was stepping forward to ensure her community has strong and authentic leadership and representation during this period.
“I’m running as a community independent because both major parties have failed our community for decades, and too many decisions affecting Nepean are made by people who don’t live here and ignore our local concerns,” she said.
“It’s time for a strong, local, independent voice in state parliament that will stand up for Nepean and fight for the outcomes our community deserves.”
Hutchison said the Mornington Peninsula has been neglected for decades, pays more, contributes more, but gets left behind when funding decisions are made.
“The public hospital I was born in needs rebuilding, and I will fight for our fair share of government spending to get it done,” she said.
“Our roads are deteriorating, our schools and health services are struggling, and we’re not seeing the housing and infrastructure investment other regions receive.
“We’re not asking for special treatment; we’re asking for our fair share, plain and simple.”
Hutchison’s extensive media career includes Triple J, the ABC’s 7.30 Report, 3RRR, and local community radio 3RPP, and she has written and commented extensively on politics, environmental, and social justice issues.
Hutchison has toyed with politics before, having considered a run for Labor in the 2019 federal election before deciding not to contest the pre-selection.
“While it is true I have given this [standing for Flinders] serious consideration, and been flooded with local support and encouragement to run, I won’t be contesting the ALP pre-selection for the federal seat of Flinders,” Hutchison told The News at the time (All quiet on Labor front for Flinders, The News 12/2/19).
More recently, Hutchison has been a vocal opponent of cuts to shire arts funding last year, as well as cuts to heritage programs, First Nations funding and the rescinding of the shire’s Climate Emergency Declaration.
Her nomination will see her stand against Anthony Marsh who was Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor when those cuts were being made, and who drove a restructure at the shire in the current council term.
The Victorian Greens have announced Sianan Healy as their be-election.
An announcement from Victorian Greens said “As a Mornington Peninsula local and a mum, Sianan speaks to locals everyday who are raising children in our public schools, working in local health services, schools, arts and hospitality, sometimes struggling to pay bills or rent”.
“She says that her community deserves a strong representative who will put their needs ahead of corporate profits, fight for the issues they care about and be their progressive voice in Parliament.”
Healy works for a non-profit in women’s health and has a background in research and education in the university sector.
“We can’t risk Liberals and One Nation who will work for their corporate donors, not their community,” said Healy.
In other news, Liberal leader Jess Wilson was down in Nepean campaigning with Anthony Marsh for the second weekend in a row.
The pair campaigned in Dromana, Rye and Blairgowrie on Saturday morning, before heading to the Red Hill Show where they were joined by Flinders MP Zoe McKenzie.
Marsh and Wilson also found time to ceremonously fill a couple of potholes for a social media video.
Decked out in hi-viz, the pair poured bitumen into potholes saying that if Jacinta Allen couldn’t do her job, they’d do it for her.
First published in the Mornington News – 10 March 2026