THE Victorian Electoral Commission has officially declared Anthony Marsh the elected member for Nepean. The final two-party preferred results after the distribution of preferences were Marsh with 25642 votes (63.24%) and independent Tracee Hutchison with 14903 votes (36.76%). The result puts an end to the long-running saga after the previous Member for Nepean, Sam Groth, resigned in February sparking the by-election. The result saw the Liberal’s share of the primary vote slip significantly from to 48.11% of the vote in the 2022 state election to 38.68% in the by-election; a drop of 3932 votes. On the other hand, due to…
Browsing: Nepean By-Election
ANTHONY Marsh is heading to Spring Street as the Liberal Party’s elected Member for Nepean, after winning the by-election on Saturday (2 May). His election will result in his resignation as Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor and councillor for Briars Ward, triggering a by-election for the vacant ward. As of the close of counting on Saturday night, 40,612 votes had been counted, representing 79.77% of the total enrolment as at the close of the rolls. Marsh came out on top in the primary count with 14927 votes (38.53% of the votes), followed by One Nation’s Darren Hercus with 9556 votes (24.66%…
Polls have now closed. We’ll provide rolling results during the evening until the winner of the by-election is know. 9.48PM Anthony Marsh will be the next Member for Nepean after the Liberal Party claimed victory in today’s by-election. Speaking to media, Marsh said “It was the honour of my life to be standing here as the next member for Nepean,” and that he’d be “On the ground every day fighting for Nepean.” Picture: Yanni 9.21PM The mood is upbeat among the Liberal faithful gathered at Rye Hotel. Marsh, centre, with Victorian Liberal leader Jess Wilson to his right. Picture: Yanni…
EARLY voting is open for the Nepean by-election, with voters asked to have their say on who will represent them in the Victorian Parliament. The early voting centres are located at: Early voting centres will open 9am to 8pm until Thursday and 9am to 6pm on election eve, Friday 1 May. The VEC will operate 13 voting centres throughout Nepean District from 8 am to 6 pm on election day Saturday 2 May. First published in the Mornington News – 28 April 2026
ANALYSIS 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…
Darren Hercus, One Nation The rising cost of living affects everyone. I support expanding public transport with improved bus services. Our policies help businesses grow, creating jobs and reducing work travel. Our energy plan includes ending government subsidies for large-scale renewable projects and reserving Victorian gas to lower energy costs. The most efficient approach to the redevelopment of Rosebud Hospital is via a “Public Private Partnership”. This involves collaboration between a private consortium and the state government, with funding privately provided, resulting in an estimated $340m in taxpayer savings. The Rosebud facility would feature a public hospital, private consulting suites,…
A DEPARTMENT of Transport and Planning spokesperson has refused to confirm media reports that the Liberal candidate for the Nepean by-election, Anthony Marsh, is being investigated for “unauthorised roadworks”. The issue centres around a campaign stunt last month involving the filling of a pothole on a state-managed road in Dromana. In a social media video, Marsh was joined by Opposition Leader Jess Wilson. The footage shows the pair filling a pothole, using the act to criticise the state government’s handling of road maintenance. “It’s roads like this that the Labor government can’t afford to fix,” Wilson said in the video,…
WITH less than two weeks until polling day, candidates are now in the final stretch. Early voting opens from Wednesday 22 April until Friday 1 May at Rosebud Sea Scouts Hall, Dromana Hub Shopping Centre, and Blairgowrie Community Hall. Some big names were in town over the weekend with the highly-publicised visit by One Nation’s Pauline Hanson, and both the leader and deputy leader of the Victorian Liberal Party, Jess Wilson and David Southwick campaigning for Anthony Marsh. The Marsh campaign announced a commitment to improve roads across the Mornington Peninsula in an announcement on Sunday (19 April). Leader of…
One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson spent Friday and Saturday (17 and 18 April) campaigning with the party’s candidate for the Nepean by-election, Darren Hercus. Hanson attended a “meet and greet” function at Rosebud Football Club on Friday night before attending a barbeque at Hercus’ business in Dromana on Saturday. Afterward, Hanson held a press conference at Rosebud Hospital that started in chaotic fashion as two people in attendance interjected. As Hanson took to the microphone, a woman in the crowd yelled that the Senator was “a racist” as another attendee yelled that Hanson was planning to get rid of the…
OPINION AN odd observation from last year’s federal election fight for the seat of Flinders was the effort that the Labor campaign put into discrediting indepdendent Ben Smith. Perhaps it was well-founded as Smith, in the tightest of contests, managed to pip Labor’s Sarah Race and end up in the two-party-preferred spot against Liberal Zoe McKenzie. Of course, McKenzie prevailed, but not by much. One wonders who would be representing Flinders in Canberra if Labor had targetted the Liberal Party instead. In a way it created odd bedfellows. Labor were in effect saying “we are against the Liberals, but our…
THE field is set and the electoral rolls are closed as the candidates face the final stretch to the Nepean by-election polling day on 2 May. After two late entries to the field, there are eight candidates contesting the poll. They are: Peter Angelico (Libertarian), Sianan Healy (The Greens), Darren Hercus (One Nation), Tracee Hutchinson (Independents of Mornington Peninsula endorsed candidate), Anthony Marsh (Liberal Party), Reade Smith (Sustainable Australia Party), Renee Thompson (Legalise Cannabis), and Milton Wilde (End Mass Immigration – Reform AU). The VEC has reported that 50,910 people are enrolled to vote at the 2 May poll; an…
THE electoral rolls have now closed for the Nepean by-election with the VEC reporting that 50,910 people are enrolled to vote at the 2 May poll; an increase of 1900 voters since the 2022 state election. With less than four weeks until polling day, there are still six candidates who have signalled their intention to run for the Nepean by-election: Anthony Marsh (Liberal Party), Tracee Hutchinson (Independents of Mornington Peninsula endorsed candidate), Sianan Healy (The Greens), Darren Hercus (One Nation), Peter Angelico (Libertarian), and Milton Wilde (End Mass Immigration – Reform AU). Of those six, five are officially registered on…
THE Greens have launched their Nepean by-election campaign, with more than 60 supporters gathering in Blairgowrie on Sunday (29 March). Mornington Peninsula mum Sianan Healy is the Greens candidate, vowing to be a true community representative in Parliament if elected, stating that “Nepean shouldn’t risk Liberals and One Nation who will work for their corporate donors, not their community.” Healy works for a non-profit in women’s health and has a background in research and education in the university sector. “Together we can build a better and brighter future – one in which we have a say in decisions that affect…
WITH less than six weeks until the Nepean by-election, electoral rolls are now closed and candidates are able to officially nominate for the race. A new name has entered the contest with Milton Wilde nominating for “End Mass Immigration – Reform AU”. Wilde joins the Liberal Party (Anthony Marsh), Victorian Greens (Sianan Healy), One Nation (Darren Hercus), Libertarians (Peter Angelico), and Indepdendents for Mornington Peninsula endorsed candidate (Tracee Hutchison) to make up the six contesting Nepean so far. Pundits from the major parties would have looked to South Australia over the weekend, and pondered how the results there will offer…
WITH less than seven weeks until the Nepean by-election, candidates are out in force, with perhaps the hottest topic being the state of Rosebud Hospital. Liberal Party candidate Anthony Marsh, alongside party leader Jess Wilson, announced on Saturday (14 March) that an elected Liberal government would spend $340m to rebuild the hospital. In a social media post, Marsh wrote “For years as mayor, I stood alongside locals calling for the upgrades our hospital desperately needs”. “Today, with Jess and the new Liberal Team, we’re drawing a line in the sand. We will get this done. “To deliver real outcomes, you…
THE review of the Liberal’s Party’s 2025 federal election defeat has painted a grim picture overall, but makes positive mention of Flinders MP Zoe McKenzie’s performance defeating independent Ben Smith. The confidential review, commissioned by the federal executive of the Liberal Party and authored by retired Liberal MPs Pru Goward and Nick Minchin, has been obtained by The News. The report did not hold back, with the authors stating “Our recommendations cannot be put on the back burner or implemented over the course of five years. The party’s survival requires urgency, determination and unity”. Submitters contributed numerous concerns including “about…
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…
Mornington Peninsula-based broadcaster and journalist Tracee Hutchison has announced she will be standing as a community independent candidate in the upcoming by-election for the seat of Nepean to be held on 2 May. 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…
THEY say a week is a long time in politics, and much has changed in the last seven days. Anthony Marsh was preselected as the Liberal Party’s candidate for the Nepean by-election last Tuesday, and has wasted no time in “hitting the hustings”. It wasn’t even close last Tuesday with Marsh winning the vote for preselection in the first round. Out of 19 votes cast, it is understood Marsh received 10 votes, Briony Camp received four votes, Nathan Conroy received three votes, and David Burgess received two votes. A statement posted to the Liberal Party’s website from Marsh said “The…
Anthony Marsh has won preselection as the Liberal Party candidate for the upcoming Nepean by-election. News out of Liberal HQ is that Marsh had a clear win against the other candidates in the first round of voting. Out of 19 votes cast, it is understood Marsh received 10 votes, Briony Camp received four votes, Nathan Conroy received three votes, and David Burgess received two votes. Marsh now has less than ten weeks to campaign for the 2 May poll to elect a replacement for retired MP Sam Groth. Precedent exists for what will be in store for Marsh, currently Mornington…
OPINION: There is no doubt that the current councillor term at Mornington Peninsula Shire has been marked by considerable change. There has been a vast restructuring inside the organisation and a swathe of well-publicised changes including, perhaps most notably, the scrapping of the Climate Emergency Plan in April last year. While suggestions of a “block” are refuted by Marsh, some votes in the current council terms appear predetermined, if not by connivance, then by undoubtably by councillor’s personal philosophies. That is a pity. For the best outcomes for ratepayers are the ones where every item is carefully considered not through…
CHRIS Brayne, who was the Member for Nepean between 2018 and 2022 before being ousted by Sam Groth, has re-emerged from self-imposed exile with some pointed commentary about the upcoming by-election. Brayne was a shock winner in the 2018 state election when, at just 25-years-old, he snatched the seat retiring MP Martin Dixon had held for 16 years. Brayne pulled off an 8.5% swing in his favour, albiet holding the seat with a tenuous 0.9% margin. Brayne faced an uphill battle in 2022 against high-profile Groth and was ousted at the poll. Brayne retired into the background and has been…
The voters of the Nepean electorate will head to the polls on 2 May to elect a replacement for retired MP Sam Groth. The date was announced yesterday (Tuesday 17 February) by Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Maree Edwards, and leaves candidates and voters a little over ten weeks of campaigning. Crucially, candidates will have only ten weeks run their campaign to be elected and only 23 days if they wait until the final nomination day for candidates on 10 April. Voters have even less time to update their enrollment, with the electoral roll closing on 20 March News from…
BEC Watson, who has risen to digital fame with her “Bec’s Unhinged Reviews” social media account has had a short but succinct look at the Nepean by-election before deciding to pass. The Mornington resident has had a meteoric rise since starting her page in October last year to over 40,000 Facebook followers of her scorched earth reviews of local towns and landmarks that have captured the imagination of a community who always knew it but were too polite to say it. Taking to social media on 6 February, Watson told her followers “Alright I need to be very clear because…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire mayor, and Briars Ward councillor Anthony Marsh has joined the Liberal Party and has confirmed with The News he has nominated for preselection as the Liberal Party’s candidate for the upcoming Nepean by-election. Marsh submitted his application last week and was approved by a Liberal Party administrative committee meeting last Thursday (12 February). The Liberals waived the usual two-year wait before a member can nominate for preselection. A Liberal Party source told The News there are at least six other contenders for preselection for the upcoming Nepean by-election, and that applications closed Monday (16 February). Among the…
A Liberal Party source has told The News there are at least six contenders for preselection for the upcoming Nepean by-election with applications believed to be closing on Monday 16 February. Among the mix are ex-Frankston City mayor and two-time Dunkley candidate Nathan Conroy, who contested the 2024 by-election after the death of Peta Murphy, and again in the 2025 federal election, both times losing to Labor’s Jodie Belyea. Also putting her hand up for another attempt is Briony Camp (nee Hutton), who ran for the seat of Hastings in the 2022 state election, losing to Labor’s Paul Mercurio. Her…
Independents for Mornington Peninsula have announced they are stepping up their search for a candidate for the state seat of Nepean, after the news of Sam Groth’s resignation and the forthcoming by-election. President of Independents for Mornington Peninsula, Phil Riley, told The News they had been searching for candidate for this year’s state election since November, but the by-election had created a “new urgency”. “The voters of Nepean will be forced to the polls twice in eight months,” said Riley. “Once again, voters of the Mornington Peninsula find themselves paying the price for Liberal Party incompetence. “This by-election isn’t about…
MEMBER for Nepean, Sam Groth, has announced his resignation from parliament, triggering a by-election for the seat of Nepean, just months out from the next state election. A statement released by Groth today (4 February) stated “Next week I will resign from the Parliament of Victoria as the Member for Nepean to pursue other opportunities”. “It has been an honour to serve the people of Nepean, and I sincerely thank them for the trust they placed in me for the opportunity to represent our community. “I am very grateful to my staff for their professionalism, dedication and tireless work in…
MEMBER for Nepean, Sam Groth, has announced he will not be recontesting his seat at the upcoming November state election, and will stand down as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition next month. In a statement released on Monday 5 January, Groth said “After many conversations with my wife and with a great deal of personal thought, I have informed the Leader of the Opposition that I have decided that I cannot continue in Parliament beyond the 2026 election”. “The public pressure placed on my family in recent months has been significant and realising that some of it came from…