THE Mornington Peninsula will continue to offer crisis accommodation after the closure of The Ranch in Mornington with the announcement of new accommodation, coined “Ranch 2.0”.For the past four years, Mornington Community Support Centre (MCSC) and Southern Peninsula Community Support (SPCS) have partnered to provide emergency accommodation at The Ranch Motel in Mornington. The accommodation was only made possible as the developer had allowed it to be used as crisis accommodation while he finalised plans for redevelopment of the site. But it was announced in March that the developer was readying plans for the site, requiring the closure of the…
Author: Cameron McCullough
THE seat of Flinders was declared by the Australian Electoral Commission on Wednesday (28 May), officially cementing Liberal Zoe McKenzie for her second term. The final declared result had McKenzie attracting 60,090 of the two-candidate preferred votes, 5257 votes ahead of independent Ben Smith on 54,833 votes.McKenzie rejoins a depleted Liberal/Nationals coalition that will hold as few as 41 seats in the House of Representatives, compared to 58 after the 2022 election. Gone also is the Liberal’s leader, Peter Dutton, opening the way for new Liberal leader Sussan Ley; the first woman to lead the federal Liberal Party. The electoral…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire will spend $260,000 on the Hastings Club building so it can be repurposed into a space for community groups. The funding announcement was confirmed at the council’s 20 May meeting, and has been allocated in the shire’s 2025-26 budget capital works program. However, the funding falls well short of the $1m being initially proposed in the budget, that councillors voted in favour of at their 22 April meeting to “ensure the long-term survival” of the building.The Hastings Club, founded in 1967, was forced into liquidation in April 2024 after facing crippling debts associated with its gaming machines.…
LAST week started with a “heartbreaking announcement” from Mornington Peninsula Dog Rescue Inc. Money had gone missing from the organisation. Police had become involved, but with 30 dogs in their care, and only $200 left in their account, they faced a difficult path forward. It was a devastating blow for the volunteer-run organisation.“It looked terrible,” said founder Erin Shaw. “But we thought the best thing to do was to be transparent. We wanted to do this for all our foster carers who put so much into caring for these dogs. They deserved to know the truth.”Mornington Peninsula Dog Rescue Inc…
THEY were inseparable. Ray and William Lothian were well-known around Hastings. Always together, as they had been their entire lives. The brothers, born two years apart, were raised by their aunt and grandmother after their mother died when they were young and their father, a World War Two veteran, was unable to cope. They depended on each other with a bond that was unbreakable. That was until the evening of 12 May when William was hit by an illegally modified electric bike, suffering “unsurvivable” injuries. Now his younger brother Ray must find a way forward without his brother and best…
Police are currently on scene at a fatal fire in Langwarrin. Emergency services were first called the blaze at a residence on Lyppards Road about 2.10am. Three occupants were able to safely evacuate the property and escaped with no injuries. A fourth yet-to-be formally identified person was located deceased inside a rear bungalow. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined. An arson chemist will attend the scene later today. Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV/dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Independent candidate Ben Smith has conceded in the federal seat of Flinders, leaving Liberal Zoe McKenzie the winner in the protracted count. The outcome has stretched nearly two weeks beyond election day with a “complex count scenario” triggered due to the inability to separate second and third polling Smith and Labor’s Sarah Race. The three-candidate-preferred count was only finalised on Monday, with the AEC reverting to a two-candidate-preferred count with Smith and McKenzie. With nearly all votes now counted, Smith still trailed by 5515 votes this morning making the outcome an obvious McKenzie win with the seat to be retained…
THE Australian Electoral Commission has declared the results of its three-candidate-preferred (3CP) count in Flinders, with Liberal Zoe McKenzie and independent Ben Smith the final two candidates. Eliminated during the 3CP count was Labor’s Sarah Race. The AEC will now revert to a traditional two-candidate-preferred (TCP) count to determine the final winner out of McKenzie and Smith. The News understands a final result is expected by the end of the week. The most recent data on the 3CP count, published this afternoon, stated that 56 poling places and declaration vote counts had completed a 3CP count with the following results.…
THERE were tense moments in the chamber at the Tuesday 6 May council meeting as councillors debated an amended motion on the shire’s operating expenses and community investment funding. Shire officers presented their 2025/26 draft budget proposal, but an alternative motion was put forward for debate by deputy mayor Cr Paul Pingiaro. The new motion included cuts to wages, and a requirement to find further “service planning efficiencies”. The councillors were presented with, and voted to accept, an increased Community Investment Funding Program, but it came at a cost, with some programs cut from shire funding. Pingiaro’s motion pushed for…
THE Australian Electoral Commission has confirmed that the electorate of Flinders is being worked through as a “complex count scenario” involving a three-candidate-preferred (3CP) count as opposed to a traditional two-candidate-preferred (2CP) count. The critical 3CP count is well over half way through, with Liberal incumbent Zoe McKenzie appearing to have the advantage over Labor’s Sarah Race and independent Ben Smith. Over 110,000 votes were counted in the electorate of Flinders first preference vote count. The Australian Electoral Commission’s traditional 2CP count had to be abandoned in favour of a 3CP count due to the close proximity between Labor’s Sarah…
The critical three-candidate-preferred (3CP) count is over half way through, as we edge closer to determining who will represent the electorate of Flinders in the next term of government. Over 110,000 votes were counted in the electorate of Flinders first preference vote count. The Australian Electoral Commission’s traditional two-candidate-preferred (2CP) count had to be abandoned in favour of a 3CP count due to the close proximity between Labor’s Sarah Race and independent Ben Smith. While Liberal Zoe McKenzie polled the highest, essentially there wasn’t a clear second ranking candidate resulting in AEC adopting a “complex count scenario” 3CP count. As…
In the latest data from the Australian Electoral Commission, Liberal Zoe McKenzie has the edge over the other two contenders, Labor’s Sarah Race and independent Ben Smith, topping 50% of the votes. The updated data comes as the AEC works through a “complex count scenario” involving a three-candidate-preferred (3CP) count as opposed to a traditional two-candidate-preferred (2CP) count. Current results in the 3CP count are: Zoe McKenzie (Liberal): 17,115 votes (50.3% of 3CP) Sarah Race (Labor): 8670 (25.48% of 3CP) Ben Smith (Independent): 8244 votes (24.23% of 3CP) The latest results see Race stretch her lead over Smith to 426…
PLEASE NOTE: There is an updated version of this article with new information here: The Australian Electoral Commission has confirmed that the electorate of Flinders is being worked through as a “complex count scenario” involving a three-candidate-preferred (3CP) count as opposed to a traditional two-candidate-preferred (2CP) count. The process is slow, and it could take more than a week to determine the eventual winner in Flinders. Current results in the 3CP count are: Zoe McKenzie (Liberal): 9695 votes (47.7% of 3CP) Sarah Race (Labor): 5318 (26.16% of 3CP) Ben Smith (Independent): 5313 votes (26.14% of 3CP) These early result have…
It is believed there has been no new counting at the Australian Electoral Commission for the seat of Flinders today. Instead, The News understands that they are conducting a numbers of “samples” down to two-candidate-preferred, and will then likely conduct preference allocations on a three-candidate-preferred basis to see if they can distinguish between Labor’s Sarah Race and independent Ben Smith. The race is very close, despite the Liberal Party’s Zoe McKenzie polling a much higher primary vote than the next two candidates. The real delay is being caused by the AEC’s inability to determine the second run candidate after McKenzie,…
“A re-elected Albanese Labor government” and “an elected Dutton Coalition government” appear to be throwaway lines in candidate announcements, but they are vitally important to the fate of candidate commitments. The failure of the Coalition to win government on Saturday will see the nearly $1b in commitments to the region made by Zoe McKenzie reduce to zero. McKenzie’s commitments were all conditional on the election of a Dutton Coalition government, and even if she continues as the Member for Flinders, they will not be fulfilled. On the morning of the election, McKenzie told her social media followers “I have a…
The federal seat of Flinders is a safe Liberal seat no more. The seat has been held continuously over the last half-century by the Liberal Party, except for a single period between 1983 and 1984. It is now going to be held by the Liberals by the slimmest of margins or potentially even lost. What we know is the result is still unclear with the Australian Electoral Commission currently “estimating” that 102 votes separate Liberal Zoe McKenzie and independent Ben Smith. This is with 89,482 votes currently counted and preference distribution incomplete. For reference, there were a total of 104,589…
TUESDAY 13 May 5.30PM The contest for the seat of Flinders is down to just two candidates, with Labor’s Sarah Race eliminated after the AEC’s three-candidate-preferred count. Read more: FRIDAY 9 May 7.30PM As of Friday night, the critical three-candidate-preferred count is over half way through, as we edge closer to determining who will be the representative for Flinders in the federal parliament. Read more: WEDNESDAY 7 May 8.20PM In the latest data from the Australian Electoral Commission, Liberal Zoe McKenzie has the edge over the other two contenders, Labor’s Sarah Race and independent Ben Smith, topping 50% of the…
OCCAM’S razor is a philosophical principal that suggests that the simplest explanation of a phenomenon is usually the most likely one. In the case of the decision of right-wing Trumpet of Patriots to place Climate 200-backed candidates second on a number of their how-to-vote cards, including for Flinders Trumpet of Patriots candidate Jason Smart, the most likely explanations would be that it was a strategic move (at best) or an error in judgment (at worst). But Clive Palmer had another explanation, quite at odds with the principle of occam’s razor. Instead, Trumpet of Patriots headquarters had somehow been “hacked” and…
LABOR’S Sarah Race has entered the last week of the election campaign focussing on health. The healthcare and social assistance sector is the biggest employer on the peninsula with almost 10,000 workers; over 15% of the local workforce. The sector is worth almost $1b to the local economy and supports tens of thousands of people who need medical care, aged care, mental health care, or NDIS support. “Health, aged care and disability support touch every family on the peninsula. Labor backs our 10,000 health workers and the local families that rely on their support.” Race said.Race told The News that…
THE Australian Electoral Commission believes this federal election will have the most complete electoral roll for any Australian federal election since federation, with around 18 million people enrolled; approximately 98% of the eligible population. The federal election process is a huge undertaking with more than 500 early voting centres currently operating across the country and over 7000 polling places operating on election day. On Saturday 3 May, over 100,000 temporary staff will work at the election. There will be 20,000 lanyards, and 240,000 vests and staff will use 25,000 copies of the electoral roll to check off the names of…
A woman missed out on her fast-food order in Mornington overnight after being caught allegedly three times over the alcohol limit. Police responded to reports of a woman driving erratically at a drive-thru on Nepean Highway about 11.45pm on 26 April. Officers approached the vehicle and gave the 56-year-old driver a preliminary breath test which returned a positive result. She was conveyed to a police station for an evidentiary breath test, where she allegedly returned a reading of .149. The Somerville woman did not get what she ordered. Her car was impounded and she will be charged on summons with…
THE board of inquiry into the McCrae landslide began its local consultations and made its first site visit on 9 April, with the chair of the inquiry, Renée Enbom KC, visiting the landslide site to understand first-hand the impacts of the event. The inquiry team also met with affected McCrae residents in attendance to hear their stories, gather relevant knowledge, and provide them with information about how to contribute to the inquiry. “Many residents affected have suffered significant impacts from the landslide, I want to acknowledge how challenging this has been on the McCrae community, and particularly those residents who…
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a burglary in Mount Martha on 10 April. It is believed an unknown offender has attended the Bradford Drive residence around 9:30am and gained entry to the house. A short time later the offender was confronted by the resident, where the offender has pulled out a weapon before fleeing the scene. Police have released images of a male they believe can assist with their enquiries. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
THE Commonwealth Electoral Act was comprehensively rewritten in 1918 to introduce preferential voting, replacing the previous “first past the post” system that had existed in the years after Federation. The change was in response to the rise of the Country Party in the aftermath of the First World War – a third major party – and the prospect of the loss of seats to Labor through a split in the non-Labor vote. The three-party system which preferential voting helped to support has remained fundamentally unchanged to this day. The system has also encouraged the participation in elections of minor candidates…
FOR the second federal election in a row, Mornington Peninsula Shire is publishing a “pledge tracker” on its website to inform resident of the “commitments made by candidates”. The tracker attracted criticism last federal election for being “blatantly unfair” with financial pledges only possible by candidates from the two major parties (Shire accused of being off track with pledges, The News 17/5/22). A “pledge” is a commitment by the candidate’s party to fund the pledged project in a future budget and only deliverable if that party wins government. The tracker currently lists Liberal candidate Zoe McKenzie, Labor candidate Sarah Race…
INDEPENDENT candidate for Flinders, Ben Smith, has put small business front and centre in the election campaign, launching his policy platform over the weekend as a new poll shows the seat is now on a knife-edge. Speaking while visiting several local businesses and markets across the peninsula, Smith said it’s time to stop treating the region like an inner-city suburb and start supporting the local employers who actually drive our economy. “As a small business owner in Flinders for over a decade, I understand the unique challenges peninsula businesses face,” Smith said. “My wife and I started our retail store…
THE Trumpet of Patriots candidate for the electorate of Flinders, Jason Smart, has announced he is “withdrawing his candidacy” for the upcoming federal election after being “blind sided by Clive Palmer’s decision” to preference Climate 200 backed candidate Ben Smith. The announcement came on Monday (21 April) after he was unable to resolve the preferencing issue with Trumpet of Patriots head office. The preferences “crisis” came after One Nation’s Mike Brown and Smart had originally announced on 16 April they would stand as a “unified alliance”. Accordingly, Smart stated his intention to place Brown second on the Trumpet of Patriots…
NOTHING says election time as much as conflicts between the opposing teams over signage. Last federal election the issue rose to prominence with the defacing of Zoe McKenzie’s campaign signage (and vehicle) with vile, misogynistic graffiti. The vandalism garnered national coverage for its “nasty and personal” nature, and a level of confusion due to McKenzie being a relative unknown at the time. McKenzie’s only substantial work on the peninsula had been with the Committee for Mornington Peninsula, and work as a member of “Save Our Spidercrabs”, campaigning for an exclusion zone around piers to prevent fishing for spider crabs between…
NOMINATIONS have now closed for the 2025 federal election with seven candidates competing in the Flinders electorate. The nominated candidates are, in ballot order: Jason Smart (Trumpet of Patriots), Ben Smith (Independent), Zoe McKenzie (Liberal), Mike Brown (One Nation), Joseph Toscano (Independent), Sarah Race (Labor) and Adam Frogley (Greens). The field of seven is substantially smaller than in 2022 when ten candidates contested the seat including two independents, and candidates from United Australia, Liberal Democrats, Animal Justice Party and Federation Party. Zoe McKenzie’s big announcement for last week was a $2m investment by an elected Dutton Liberal government to improve…
LAST week marked the first full week of campaigning since the federal election was called for 3 May.Candidates wasted no time hitting the hustings with a flurry of appearances and some sizeable commitments. Nominations for candidacy in the federal election close this Thursday (10 April), so we should have a full list of candidates by next week’s edition of The News. Labor candidate Sarah Race was joined on the campaign trail by the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, to announce a number of infrastructure projects a re-elected Albanese government would undertake. The promises included:…