TEN candidates have nominated to be elected by approximately 53,500 eligible voters, to the Legislative Assembly seat of South West Coast.

The ballot paper, listing candidates in numerical order from top to bottom, was drawn last Friday by the Victorian Electoral Commission.

Incumbent MP, the Liberal Party’s Roma Britnell, drew what candidates generally deem as the unenviable last position on the ballot paper.

However, most voters adhere to the preferential voting directives from party or Independent how-to-vote cards with the ballot draw influencing a negligible number of votes.

Ms Britnell, a former nurse and dairy farmer, has held the seat since 2015 following a by-election when then sitting MP and former premier, Hon Denis Napthine, resigned.

Although in opposition for the entirety of her tenure, Ms Britnell has campaigned heavily on road conditions, improving rail and public transport to the region, and better health care services in the south-west.

She has held the shadow portfolios of Ports and Freight, and Consumer Affairs.

Four Independents have nominated, including two Moyne Shire Councillors - James Purcell who drew first place on the ballot paper - followed by James (Jim) Doukas in second.

Mr Purcell only notified Moyne Shire Council of his candidacy last Friday and like Mr Jim Doukas, is now on a leave of absence from his duties as Councillor until after the election period.

Born in Bessiebelle and schooled in Heywood, Mr Purcell previously held a seat in the Upper House as Member for Western Victoria for four years from 2014, during which he worked to get funding on the Portland’s Hanlon Park lights, Warrnambool’s Reid Oval and anti-fracking legislation. 

Born and raised on a dairy farm at Mailors Flat, Mr Doukas has served on Moyne Shire Council since first elected in March 2002 and was mayor between 2010 and 2013.

This is not the first time Mr Doukas has run for the seat of South West Coast, having previously stood as a candidate for the Australia Country Party in 2015 and 2018.

He secured 10.34 per cent of the primary vote in 2015, then 8.16 per cent last time, and made it to the fifth round of preference counting before being knocked out.

Mr Doukas said his motivation to nominate again came from a combination of things that included the recent decision by Warrnambool City Council to close the Warrnambool Saleyards, which he did not support.

He said his candidacy was about getting more for the region and specifically, road and health funding. He also has major concerns about the future of the Country Fire Authority and the declining number of volunteers.

In third position is Michael McCluskey, an Independent, born and bred in Warrnambool, with an employment history that includes working on a dairy farm and the public service before returning to study to become a veterinarian. He states his election platform consists of healthcare and reducing violence against women and children, climate change and better funded road and rail services.

Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party’s candidate, James Grimley, drew fourth position on the ballot paper. 

The party’s fundamental policies include concerns that magistrates and judges are more focused on the welfare of convicted criminals than victims, and a belief that punishment should fit the crime.

Their policies also include bail and parole reform and most notably, a national and public register of convicted sex offenders. 

There was no information on the party’s website about Mr Grimley and he didn’t respond to enquiries.

Warrnambool resident and Independent, Carol Altmann, drew fifth position and is said to be running a tight race against the incumbent.

Ms Altmann is a freelance journalist and stakes claim to exposing scandals within the Warrnambool City Council and systemic issues with the Lyndoch Living aged care facility in Warrnambool.

She said she wants to continue to focus on environmental issues, ease pressure on road networks and look after community assets like the Heywood swimming pool and the Portland basketball stadium.

Next on the ballot paper is Chris Brunt, standing for Family First Victoria, on a policy platform aimed at restoring the family unit to the centre of public policy.

Their website said this would be achieved through grass roots political party action and courageous voices in parliament against radical anti-family attitudes and modern politics. 

No specific information on Mr Brunt was detailed on the website, nor was a response to an email forthcoming.

Jacinta Anderson for the Animal Justice Party drew seventh in the ballot and is running a campaign on the party’s platform of animal cruelty, having worked in the fashion industry and becoming aware of the practices used to obtain animal products.

She also has a history in wildlife rescuing and wishes to change the perceptions of native wildlife from being ‘pests’ to ‘friends’.

Ms Anderson said she was also very concerned about the rising cost of living and homelessness, the environment - specifically, planned seismic testing for oil and gas in the Otway Basin.

The Australian Labor Party’s candidate is once again Kylie Gaston who also stood for the seat of South West Coast last election in 2018, securing 24.53 per cent of first preferences and 47.69 per cent after the distribution of preferences.

Ms Gaston drew eighth position on the ballot paper and is looking to capitalise on the political climate of Labor governments at the State and Federal levels.

In the past, she served on Warrnambool City Council for two terms, including for two years as mayor, has been a director at the Warrnambool Base Hospital and presently sits on the board of Wannon Water.

Ms Gaston has also named cost of living pressures as one of her main concerns.

Next on the ballot is Thomas Campbell, candidate for The Greens in ninth spot.

Mr Campbell has stood for South West Coast on three previous occasions as well as a tilt at the federal level in Wannon.

Increasing public anxiety around climate change has propelled The Greens to greater success electorally, and candidates are looking to capitalise on their most successful campaign result at the last Federal Election in May, gaining three seats.

Mr Campbell has been a vocal advocate for renewables in the south-west and has advocated for a total ban on fracking. 

A boundary redistribution occurred on November 1, and the South West Coast electorate lost 114 voters from Caramut to Lowan, however, gained 3285 voters from Polwarth District (Ballangeich, Framlingham East, Garvoc, Glenormiston South, Kolora, Laang, Naringal, Naringal East, Nirranda, Nirranda East, Nirranda South, Noorat, Noorat East, Nullawarre, Peterborough, Terang and The Sisters).

South West Coast covers predominant swathes of Glenelg and Moyne Shires, all of Warrnambool City Council and part of Corangamite Shire.

The boundary runs east along the coast from the South Australian border, taking in Nelson, Portland, Port Fairy, Warrnambool and Peterborough. To the north, it takes in the rural and regional towns of Terang, Hawkesdale, Macarthur, Heywood, and Condah, covering an area of 6576 square kilometres.