Redistribution representation concerns

The latest redistribution of Victoria’s largest federal seat has raised questions about adequate representation for those living in the far reaches of the electorate.

Mallee is currently held by Nationals MP Anne Webster, whose main office is in Mildura.

Under the Australian Electoral Commission’s latest redistribution the electorate has been expanded, to again take in Stawell, Great Western and Halls Gap.

Since 2018, the towns had been in Wannon, represented by federal Liberal MP and Trade Minister Dan Tehan.

The AEC based its decision to expand Mallee on predictions of a 3.47 per cent drop in the seat’s population.

Livestock and crop producer Graeme Maher, Marlu, has three properties, at Lubeck, Warra and Mt Dryden.

“I worry that we are going to struggle to get representation, as the electorate spreads, further and further,” Mr Maher said.

As the Victorian Farmers Federation Wimmera branch president, he said he’d unsuccessfully sought to set up a meeting with Ms Webster.

Climate change

He said he also had concerns about the National Party’s stand on climate change, with increasing concerns among the electorate about its impact.

“With what’s happened in the rest of the world in the last month, climate change doubters are starting to lose any credibility whatsoever – whether that’s the heatwave in Canada, the floods in China and Europe and even the cold here.”

Telecommunications was also a federal issue.

“Anything further up the hill at Mt Dryden is fine, anything further down the hill is dead,” he said.

“It is ridiculous that I sow everything to two-centimetre accuracy, but I can’t make a phone call when sitting in the tractor cab

“That is just mind boggling.”

Ms Webster would also have to deal with the issue of planned reintroduction of dingoes, to the Grampians.

Mr Maher acknowledged the AEC was only following the guidelines that governed it.

“The only improvement you can have is to change the guidelines,” he said.

Sheep producer Murray Davis, Dergholm, is 446 kilometres from Mildura, the site of the seat’s main office.

He said since Dergholm had been moved from Wannon to Mallee, many years ago, he hadn’t feel heard

“When I started ringing the office in Mildura, they didn’t even know where Dergholm was,” Mr Davis said.

Wannon’s main office was in Hamilton, 100 kilometres from Dergholm.

Mr Davis wrote to the AEC stating his objections, saying he felt no connection to the Mallee.

“My family and I, along with most other people we know in the Dergholm area, primarily gravitate towards Casterton and Hamilton for business, work, educational and everyday living requirements,” he told the AEC.

“We do not feel informed about what is going on in Edenhope, or Horsham, or the many regions further north.”

There would be no more than 100 voters in the area and they would be better off in Wannon, he said.

New technology

Farmer and former Yarriambiack shire mayor, Rupanyup’s Ray Kingston, stood as an independent, in the last federal election.

“We know the population of Mallee is not going to get bigger,” Mr Kingston said.

“The argument is only ever about what is the least stupid way of making the electorate bigger, rather than addressing the underlying issue – the challenge of rural population decline.

“But the AEC could definitely tidy up the recognition of how hard it is to service a seat like Mallee.”

He said funding two electorate offices was “woefully inadequate”.

A former member used to fly but paid for that transport out of his own pocket.

“It’s expensive, of course, and the taxpayer has to pick up the tab, but I think you have to do a better job of giving people access to the member.”

Mr Kingston said coronavirus had shown Zoom technology was a viable alternative, to getting out and about in person.

“It’s best to be there in person,” he said.

“In the absence of that the member needs to be really proactive, regularly engaging with all these little communities, dotted around the place, through technology.”

He said the main issue was to try and reverse the population drain, from the bush.

“What we need is a serious vision to address population decline, everything else is skirting around the edges,” he said.

When the proposed boundaries were announced, Ms Webster, welcomed the expansion of the electorate.

“Because of the proximity of Stawell to Mallee, I’ve already been working closely with residents and stakeholders in that region and look forward to continue to advocate for all of Northern Grampians shire,” she said.