Non-aligned contenders Linda Smith and Michael McCluskey, on the South West Coast ticket, and Katrina Rainsford, on the Lowan ticket, declined to instruct their supporters which way to vote, although major parties have outlined their preferences.

Dr Rainsford said she was running as an “independent Liberal”, although it was up to her supporters whether they preferenced the National Party in Lowan over Labor or vice versa.

“My whole message has been put a number 1 next to Rainsford on the ballot paper, then it’s up to you,” the Lowan candidate said. “I was a member of the Liberal Party for 13 years but the Liberals aren’t running in Lowan, so it’s up to the voter who their second or third preference is.”

In all three south-west seats, The Greens have preferenced Labor over Liberal, while Country Alliance has indicated the opposite, directing its preferences to the Coalition in favour of the ALP. Both minor parties have preferenced one another last out of the six contenders in the South West Coast field.

Mr McCluskey said the main aim of his campaign was to attract first preferences and believed voters could make up their own minds about who they preferenced.

Premier Denis Napthine has placed Country Alliance as the Liberal Party’s second preference, while Labor candidate Roy Reekie has placed independent Linda Smith as second preference, followed by Country Alliance.

Liberal and Labor preferences have little bearing on the South West Coast outcome, as both parties are highly likely to be the final two contenders for the seat.

alex.sinnott@fairfaxmedia.com.au