WANNON has been treated with contempt by the two major parties and the push to make the seat marginal has merit, according to prominent Liberals.
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Former Liberal MP Adam Kempton and past Liberal state vice-president Bev McArthur have joined the chorus of south-west residents claiming Wannon has been ignored by Canberra and have called on constituents to reconsider their vote.
The duo are the highest profile party members so far to speak out against Wannon Liberal candidate Daniel Tehan, who moved from Melbourne to Hamilton late last year after gaining preselection.
Mr Tehan's candidature has been received poorly by several prominent members in recent months with Liberal Hamilton branch president Peter Small allegedly looking to "sink" Mr Tehan's primary vote on preferences.
Mrs McArthur was bitterly disappointed that a bidding war had erupted between Labor and Liberal with cash "thrown around like Monopoly money" in Corangamite with Wannon fast becoming a poor cousin.
Mr Kempton said widespread anger over pork barrelling by the major parties would result in many long-time supporters lodging a protest vote with the independents on Saturday.
He agreed with Mrs McArthur and added that Mr Tehan and Labor opponent Judith McNamara had "been the weakest candidates Wannon has had in decades".
"Let me say from the outset that I believe the Labor Government is a bad government and I wholeheartedly support the election of an Abbott government this weekend," Mr Kempton, who was Warrnambool MP from 1983-85, said.
"But having said that, I believe the major parties both Labor and Liberal, have treated Wannon voters contemptuously in this campaign and their candidates do not deserve your vote.
"Labor have selected a lightweight, last-minute candidate in McNamara when there would be plenty of other people better qualified.
"What I find more disappointing is the Liberal Party's selection (Mr Tehan), someone who has demonstrated that he does not understand the Western District, lacks any proper business credentials and has focused his campaign on advocacy rather than delivering what the region needs.
"The concept of a marginal Wannon is something which voters will favour because the party system has failed Wannon and the Liberal Party needs to renew to become the proud political movement it once was."
Mrs McArthur, who has been a party member for 35 years, said there was an obvious level of voter dissatisfaction with several candidates standing for Wannon.
"Firstly, it has been most interesting in a seat like Wannon to see five independent candidates standing in this Saturday's election. One has only to ask the question "Why?", she said.
"Secondly, it has been extremely disappointing that the two major parties have not been able to field candidates who have a long and established history in the area and a proven dedicated commitment to Wannon.
"Thirdly, there has been considerable media comment and questions surrounding the credentials and bona fide of certain candidates. It is obvious that voters regard honesty, integrity and transparency as high order principles in their parliamentary representative.
''If a candidate can't be open and honest when seeking this high office, can we be assured of their commitment to such principles when in office.
"Wannon voters certainly don't want more of the same disgraceful mismanagement and abuse of power they have endured under Labor but do they want a career candidate who in reality is neither from the area or the small business or farming sector?"
asinnott@standard.fairfax.com.au
