THE ELECTORATE of Wannon is officially in caretaker mode with the announcement of the Federal election to be held on Saturday May 21, 2022, after the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison dissolved the 46th parliament on Sunday.

Voters will be deciding on what their major election hot button issues throughout the six-week campaign with the cost of living likely to be at the top of the list.

The financial pressures that low- and middle-income families and businesses experienced throughout the pandemic and how whether they consider the government responded adequately, will likely influence voters at the ballot box.

Roads will also be high on the voting agenda, despite only one national arterial highway, the Western Highway, being the responsibility of the federal government within Wannon.

Rural and regional communities have been calling for greater funding commitments to major infrastructure, roads and digital connectivity.

Regional Cities Victoria chair, Cr Kim O’Keeffe called on every political party and candidate to recognise the role of the regions in driving the national economy, and to commit to strategic regional investment.

“The message from regional Victoria is loud and clear. Any plan to recover and rebuild after the pandemic must include strategic investment in our regions,” Cr O’Keeffe said.

“We are seeing unprecedented population shifts into regional Victoria, and we need Commonwealth policy and funding that supports sustainable growth and ensures our regions are great places to work, live, and visit.”

“In many areas, our communities and businesses are still waiting for the basics; safe roads and reliable internet connections.”

Access to health care is the other “big ticket item” according to the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) who are urging rural and remote Australians to make rural healthcare the deciding factor when voting in the forthcoming election.

 RDAA president, Dr Megan Belot said the rural health system continues to struggle with workforce shortages and poor funding.

“A recent Senate inquiry into the provision of GP services in rural areas has raised significant concerns with the ongoing shortage of doctors in the bush,” Dr Belot said.

“We need Labor and the Coalition to commit to take urgent and real action in government to ensure rural Australians have a health system with a viable future.”

Wannon candidates

Greens candidate, Hilary McAllister will campaign with climate change and housing affordability high on the agenda.

“The more I learnt about the action space around climate and biodiversity, I was like ‘well politics is kind of where it’s at’, if you want to make systemic change,” she said.

“One thing that has become apparent, and I’ve experienced in Airey’s Inlet, is the lack of housing and affordable housing … it’s great that a lot of people want to move down to regional and coastal areas partly due to COVID-19, partly because they don’t have to be in the city anymore, but there’s just not enough housing, not an affordable rental market and increasingly, not enough places for people who want to work in hospitality and the service industry that these towns rely on to operate.”

Independent candidate, Alex Dyson running for the second time in Wannon, said this time round he was focused on listening to what constituents need.

He said voters had a unique opportunity to use their vote to send a message to those in power and wanted to see change in the traditionally blue-ribbon seat.

“I think people can look at what has happened in the last 60 years where it’s been the same power,” he said.

“People can look at the results in the region, look at their internet, roads they drive on, lack of services, and ask what the downside is to vote differently, either it is the same or they (the government) get a wakeup call.”

The Liberal Democrats (LDP) candidate, Amanda Mead has had enough of regional areas being left behind and wants to shake things up in Canberra.

She said her interest in politics peaked when blanket restrictions were applied to metropolitan Melbourne and Regional Victoria, despite the disparity in COVID-19 case numbers.

“As a small business owner, I started to get more interested in politics when COVID hit,” she said.

 “I was allowed to trade with density limits (in 2020), and then 2021 hit, and even though there weren’t any active cases out here, I was forced to close and the financial support from the Federal Government and the State Government has just been appalling.”

Incumbent sitting MP, and Liberal Party candidate, Dan Tehan has represented the people of Wannon for over a decade, and said he is not done yet.

 Mr Tehan said it was a great honour to serve the people of Wannon as their representative in Canberra.

“I will contest the seat of Wannon on behalf of the Liberal Party at the upcoming election,” he said.

“I work hard to represent the interests of our local communities and I look forward to asking the people of Wannon to put their trust in me again at the next election.”

“I will continue to fight for our community to ensure: more funding for our roads and rail infrastructure, securing good jobs and reducing the cost of living, delivering regional services, delivering community projects, and caring for our beautiful environment.

Labor Party candidate, Gilbert Wilson has worn many hats - he has served over two decades as a Glenelg Shire councillor, was a three-term mayor, secretary of the South Western District Football League, a basketball referee, and an administrator for the Portland Basketball Association.

“I’m a tradie, a sports fan and a bit of a farmer,” he said.

“Being in a safe Liberal seat, which was first won in 1955, so it’s 67 years of a Liberal member, I did not even think about it as an adult, or even entertain being a candidate, but after losing my job, seeing what the Morrison Government was doing to this country, I decided to put my hat in the ring for the Labor party.”

United Australia Party candidate, Craige Kensen of Casterton believes that owning and operating a local small business should be a prerequisite for a candidate to seek election in Wannon, in order to offer better grass roots representation.

One of the catalysts for Mr Kensen to stand for Parliament has been his observations over the last two years witnessing the closure of many small businesses, operated by Mums and Dads, while conglomerate enterprises like McDonalds and Bunnings remained open.

“It’s not the Australia I know,” he said.

“People are sick of career politicians with no life experience and no connection to community - the current crop of politicians has no interest in community.

“Being elected won’t be a job to me – it will be a privilege – like other UAP candidates, I won’t be doing it for the money.”