Today Wannon voters will decide whether they will maintain the Liberal Party’s decades-long hold by voting for incumbent Dan Tehan or break with tradition and try something new.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Wannon has been represented by just three members during the 61-year period it has been held by the Liberal Party.
The 10 per cent margin Mr Tehan achieved at the 2013 federal election helped bolster his position in the seat after he first won it in 2010 following the retirement of David Hawker.
A change of representative looks unlikely, however, there has been a prediction that there may be a small swing against Mr Tehan.
Labor candidate Michael Barling, who is making his second run at the seat, has been playing up his underdog status and urging voters to be fearless by embracing change and turning away from the electorate’s strong conservative past.
Mr Tehan has adhered to the Coalition government’s national approach, keeping the focus on jobs and economic stability, and using his experience in government to boost his credibility.
During the campaign all five contenders for the seat, including two new independents, have worked hard to put forward their ideas about how Wannon’s future should look.
