OVENS Valley candidate Julian Fidge has blasted his Labor rival, saying she should resign because she does not live in the electorate.
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The former Wangaratta councillor was responding to Gail Cholosznecki revealing she had no plans to visit the North East seat in the last week of the Victorian election campaign.
The Melbourne-based Labor hopeful will also snub a Victorian Farmers Federation candidates’ forum and is unable to say how many times she will visit Ovens Valley before November 29.
Dr Fidge, who is representing the Australian Country Alliance, said she should resign and insist a person living in the area take her place.
“The worst local candidate would be better than the best city candidate,” he said.
“They would identify with and have empathy for regional people.
“Gail doesn’t live here and do the work we do and rely on the industries we rely on.”
Dr Fidge believed people would not be willing to vote for somebody who did not share the region’s concerns, pressures and difficulties.
“The party gets about 20 per cent of the vote and that is unlikely to improve, and it’s sad, but the party doesn’t put much effort in,” he said.
Greens candidate Jamie McCaffrey and sitting Nationals MP Tim McCurdy agreed Ms Cholosznecki would find it hard to keep up with the issues.
“Someone who is city-based can’t participate actively in campaigning,” Mr McCaffrey said.
“It will disadvantage her because you do need to be seen talking and listening to the community.”
Mr McCaffrey also expressed his disappointment about Ms Cholosznecki’s unavailability for the VFF forum.
“She will miss hearing from people about their concerns and how candidates are responding,” he said.
“If you’re there you’re accountable and putting your positions forward.”
Mr McCurdy said Ms Cholosznecki’s failure to visit Ovens Valley was a personal choice.
“We live in a democracy and people make choices on what they know about the candidate,” he said.