But when it comes to the state election and more particularly the race for our local state lower house seat of South West Coast, there is nothing wrong with backing this horse. 

The Standard has campaigned for many vital investments in the region. For many years. Some have been delivered. Others such as a new hospital, better roads, better schools and more jobs are, it seems, locked in a snarl that many believe is the result of our “safe Liberal seat” status. 

This is hard to deny when looking at other marginal seats both here in Victoria and across Australia.

The Standard has recently focused on some of these, in particular Shepparton. The funding Shepparton gained for vital infrastructure and social investments from both federal and state governments makes the south-west look like a destitute cousin in comparison.

The time, therefore, is right for voters to consider changing generational habits.

The Standard recently ran extraordinary comments from one of the most powerful five or so people in the Andrews Labor government who went so far as to suggest that in order to attract our fair share of funding that we shouldn’t vote Labor, or Liberal, but rather vote for an independent candidate. This would result in either an independent working with the new state government post November 24 or at least our seat becoming marginal.

And then comes preferencing, the political machination that disenchants voters.

If voters preference Labor and Liberal as their bottom two and vote for independents then marginality is assured and possibly the prospect of an independent working with a new state government in our interests.

But deals within deals are surfacing as the major parties work to shore up candidates in other houses of parliament and other seats.

They too are backing the aforesaid horse called self-interest, but at great cost to us.

So let’s do what we have to do for ourselves – not a party or a politician – at the ballot box in 14 days’ time.

After all, it is in our (self) interest.