A NORTH East political face has dismissed the chances of the region’s independents in the Victorian election, saying “the fairy tale seems to be being bought into”.
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Zuvele Leschen, who stood at five polls for Labor from 1998 to 2010, believes those seeking to emulate Cathy McGowan’s win over Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella at state level are doomed.
“I don’t rate the chances of any of the independents as they do,” Ms Leschen said, alluding to Jenny O’Connor, Jacqui Hawkins (Benambra), Don Firth (Euroa) and Tammy Atkins (Ovens Valley).
“There’s a few myths going around about independents and marginal seats.
“The fairy tale seems to be being bought into, rather than analysed.
“You don’t get that many Sophie Mirabellas in your lifetime.
“Cathy McGowan would not have stood (in 2013) if Labor hadn’t reduced Sophie Mirabella’s margin to nine per cent.”
Labor spoke to three Wangaratta councillors, deputy mayor Mark Currie, Ashlee Fitzpatrick and Dave Fuller about standing for the party.
Cr Currie said: “I had a fleeting conversation with them, but that was about it, we didn’t get into any nitty-gritty at all.”
Cr Fitzpatrick, who turns 21 on Sunday and will be voting in her first Victorian election this month, said: “I’ve just been a year on council and that’s my main priority.”
Cr Fuller said the “timing wasn’t right”.
Ms Leschen blamed the “attitude” of the media for Labor not securing a candidate who lives in Ovens Valley.
“We haven’t been treated fairly,” she said.
She said Labor candidates were volunteers, who faced the loss of jobs if they stood, and did not have advantages of incumbents such as Benambra MLA Bill Tilley.
“Bill Tilley is in a safe seat, he can ride out a lot of storms that someone who is a volunteer cannot,” Ms Leschen said.
“He gets paid $2000 a week to campaign.”
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