There is a wonderful tool available to assist you in your decision at abc.net.au/news/vic-election-2014/vote-compass/.

Especially if you think you already know how you should vote, or have always voted for a certain party, take the test, you might be surprised.

Voting should not be treated lightly or like a sporting event where you support the one team blindly your whole life.

The “teams” have changed so dramatically over the years, they would be unrecognisable to their founders.

It is said that we get the government we deserve.

If we all vote without thoroughly investigating the policies of the party we are voting for, we will get what we deserve.

Look up the policies that are of concern to you on their websites and compare them to the other parties.

Being a marginal seat has been a boon for Indi’s hospitals and schools and this will only increase if we can make our state seats marginal.

Not voting for Liberal, National or Labor will see the money continue to roll in.

If you find yourself seduced by the promise of new saleyards in Wangaratta, ask yourself whether that is of more benefit to you as a farmer than being able to stop the CSG mining companies from forcibly taking over your land and potentially poisoning land and vital water courses near and far.

— LINDA SIMPSON,

Oxley