But this week a senior Labor source dropped a bombshell urging voters to prioritise an independent over sitting Liberal MP Roma Britnell and the ALP’s own candidate Kylie Gaston.

The source revealed his government ignored safe Liberal seats and he believed the Liberals took their heartland for granted when in office.

“The conservative sitting members don’t get access to Labor government funding and when conservative governments get elected they do nothing,” he said.

The source argued the region’s best way to get a better deal was to elect an independent. With a long list of projects needing funding, like $300 million to upgrade the Princes Highway west of Colac to the South Australian border and a $400 million redevelopment of Warrnambool Base Hospital, we need the government in our corner.

“Labor is paying close attention to the south-west,” he said. “We understand there are large groups of lower-income workers who haven’t got their fair share in the south-west and whose parents and grandparents vote conservatively. They won’t vote Labor so the only way to get change is to vote for the independents, or at least make it marginal. If they put the Liberals last on November 24 it’s the only way to make sure the people of the south-west get the funding they deserve.”

The comments, along with evidence from Shepparton where there has been an independent for the past four years, provide food for thought as the election nears.

As always, it was another busy week across the south-west with the horses on beaches saga taking several new twists before Warrnambool City Council ruled out horses returning to Levys beach.

In case you missed them, here’s some stories of the week to catch up on.

Have a good week,