NO candidate is yet to challenge State Transport Minister Terry Mulder for his seat of Polwarth, with former challengers ruling themselves out.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Six candidates including the Liberal MP contested the Colac-based seat at the 2010 state election, but Mr Mulder is the only contender to renominate four years on.
Labor Party state secretary Noah Carroll said ALP headquarters had received nominations for all four south-west lower house seats.
He said the process would be finalised in the next few months, with the new ALP candidates publicised shortly after.
“We’ve received nominations in all seats for the region, in some cases multiple nominations,” Mr Carroll said.
Former independent candidate Grant Beale moved to the Northern Territory last year but said he wouldn’t put his name on the Polwarth ballot even if he was still living in the electorate.
The former Beeac dairy farmer gained only two per cent of the Polwarth vote at the 2010 election.
“I don’t think there’ll be any change in Polwarth. It’ll be in Coalition hands for decades and decades to come,” Mr Beale said.
Mr Mulder won a majority on first preferences at the 2010 state election with 55 per cent of the vote, followed by Labor candidate Brian Crook on 27 per cent. On a two party-preferred basis, the Coalition holds the seat with a 13 per cent margin, considered ultra-safe by political experts.
Former Greens candidate Natalie Atherden said she would not stand for her party’s preselection in Polwarth.
The minor party was backed by eight per cent of Polwarth voters at the last state election.
Former Country Alliance candidate Garry Kerr is standing as the minor party’s lead candidate in the upper house, following his Polwarth tilt nearly four years ago.
The minor party picked up nearly four per cent of the vote.
Mr Kerr said Country Alliance was actively seeking lower house candidates for the Western District seats of Polwarth, South West Coast and Lowan.
Former Family First candidate John Modra and Mr Crook could not be contacted yesterday.