Created at federation, the electorate of Bendigo currently extends from the city itself south to Castlemaine and the Macedon Ranges around Woodend, also taking in smaller rural centres to the west and north. The redistribution to take effect at the next election has added the Macedon Ranges area from McEwen in the electorate’s south-east, and transferred Maryborough and its surrounds to Wannon in the west. The changes respectively affect about 7000 and 10,000 voters but have only a negligible impact on the Labor margin, which goes from 9.5% to 9.4%.
Bendigo was first won by Labor in 1913, having earlier been in Protectionist and Liberal hands. Billy Hughes contested the seat as the Nationalist Prime Minister in the wake of the Labor split of 1917, having recognised he would be unable to retain his existing safe Labor seat of West Sydney, and succeeded in unseating Labor incumbent Alfred Hampson with a 12.5% swing. Hughes would remain member for five years before moving to North Sydney. Bendigo was in conservative hands thereafter until 1949, except when Richard Keane held it for a term after Labor came to office in 1929. George Rankin gained the seat for the Country Party when United Australia Party incumbent Eric Harrison retired in 1937.
Bendigo emerged with the curious of distinction of being gained by Labor when it lost office in 1949, and next lost by them when they finally returned to power in 1972. The win in 1949 resulted from the redistribution giving effect to the enlargement of parliament, which accommodated the state’s northern rural reaches in the new seat of Murray and transferred Castlemaine and Maryborough to Bendigo. John Bourchier won the seat for the Liberals against the trend of a substantial pro-Labor swing in Victoria in 1972, which was variously put down to the entry of a popular Country Party candidate and attacks on Labor member David Kennedy over state aid and his liberal position on abortion. Bourchier would in turn hold the seat until the Fraser government’s defeat in 1983.
Bendigo was then held for Labor by future Victorian Premier John Brumby, who served for three terms before joining Victorian Labor’s extensive casualty list at the 1990 election. Bruce Reid served for three terms as Liberal member until his retirement in 1998, when Labor’s Steve Gibbons, a former Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union official and electorate officer to Brumby, gained the seat with a swing of 4.4%. Gibbons came within 1.0% of defeat at the 2004 election before enjoying consecutive swings of 5.2% and 3.4% in 2007 and 2010. After announcing in September 2011 he would not seek another term, Gibbons became less disciplined in his public pronouncements, proclaiming on Twitter that Kevin Rudd was a “psychopath”, Tony Abbott a “douchebag”, Julie Bishop a “narcissistic bimbo”, and Australia Day an “Invasion Day” celebrated by “throwing bits of dead animals on a cooking fire just like the people we dispossessed”.
Labor’s new candidate is Lisa Chesters, a Kyneton-based official with the same Socialist Left union that once employed Gibbons, which has lately been rebadged as United Voice. Earlier speculation that the seat might be used to accommodate electorally endangered Senator David Feeney or even a return to federal politics for John Brumby was quickly scotched. Greg Westbrook, director of legal firm Petersen Westbrook Cameron, was an early nominee, but in the event Chesters was preselected without opposition. The Liberal candidate is Greg Bickley, owner of a local transport business. Other reported nominees for Liberal preselection were Jack Lyons, owner of construction business Lyons Constructions, and Peter Wiseman, a teacher and owner of a website design business.
bemused
That is such a stale joke now. You’re being wilfully obtuse.
I forgive you, but only because I am full of lovely food.
Daniel Hurst @danielhurstbne
My feature on Katter’s Australian Party’s internal dramas: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/katter-party-tries-to-keep-lid-on-20130216-2ejxh.html … #qldpol #auspol
Here, baby eggplants with a ratatouille (=mess) of capsicum and homegrown tomatoes, basil, oregano, thyme and marjoram.
No crackling, I’m afraid.
I suppose that the whole of Australia does not watch Insiders. I wish that they would. Eeergh.
The Julie Bishop performance is worthy of Troy Bushell.
In fact worse. Writhing on her seat, a la Dorrie Evans.
Lasciviating over Hugh Jackman.
Eeewww.
MTBW,
There was a time when Members of the ALP prided themself on loyalty to the Leadership the Party and the Policies.
It seems that a few of the inhabitants of PB now have their own interpretation of loyalty and think presenting as a LIb cheer squad through their putative champion is the way to go.
Just remember, what goes around comes around.
[Lasciviating over Hugh Jackman.]
Any word from her current squeeze … ?
bemused
Afterthought – if there’s a world food crisis ( a real one), we might all be eating inorganic “food”. After all, we already clothe ourselves in inorganic materials.
confessions@1058
So, can we officially refer to him as “the embattled Premier of Queensland” now?
GG
[It seems that a few of the inhabitants of PB now have their own interpretation of loyalty and think presenting as a LIb cheer squad through their putative champion is the way to go.]
You as usual are talking rubbish!
Not that she mentioned, Ducky.
[… while poking fun at state Labor leader Mark McGowan about his birthdate in the Chinese year of the goat.]
Did she really do this? The woman is mad, Barney has a fight on his hands and this crap will not help.
guytaur
I could accept your request if it had anything to do with what I was commenting on. Simple.
Fran B: ballot papers
Feeney: Labor supporter wishing to join and in the electorate of Griffith.
William: Steve Gibbons – this is what William’s post is about after all, the seat of Bendigo.
poroti: an answer to a question.
The only posts I made with a reference to Rudd was the Steve Gibbons post. And that was about Peter van Onselen’s accusation against Gibbons. And the Feeney post, where he resides in Griffith.
But, I accept you made a mistake.
All is forgiven if you refrain from associating my name with bemuseds. Thank you.
Well it’s been another weekend where Labor politicians have been magnificent and all Liberal politicians dreadful and weak same with their respective journalistic supporters.
Should I be expecting a dramatic shift in Essential, Newspoll, Neilsen to Labor?
I mean all those guys in IT who voted Liberal the last 3 elections shifting to Labor. The trouble with all the IT and highly educated types is they never use Landlines so cannot be polled, don’t participate in Essential online Polls and only occasionally get box popped by a Morgan Face to Face survey. The corollary being that they get missed by the major polls and that is why the pills are rubbish and non representive, it is just the 90 year old self funded retirees actually being polled ergo My Say (seldom seen these days) is correct polls don’t amount to anything this side of mid August.
ru:
She did. Abbott’s address wasn’t much better. Full of arrogance and hubris.
Re Harold Holt … Kezza 1132..
____________
Despite the obits ..I stil like to believe now that Harold Holt was taken by that Chinese Submarine and finished
up in a Chinese retirement home,after a career as Mao’s senior advisor !!
So his wife Zara said he didn’t like Chinezse food,but that’s a small detail
Actually I did read tha book “The PM was a Spy” by a British journo(a senior one at that) and it was a great read
Why haven’t they made a film of it ?
I love the idea that Menzies heir and the DLP’s choice was actually a Chinese agent…you could not invent that scenario!
There’s an Opera called “Nixon in China”… so why not an Ozzie version with Harold Holt as the hero(villian ?)
The Phantom of Canberra”…
[QUEENSLAND taxpayers forked out more than $120,000 on 207 state-of-the-art chairs for State Government hierarchy at the same time Premier Campbell Newman was announcing massive budget cuts and job losses. ]
See Campbell cutting the literary awards was always going to bite you on the bum.
Yep. Stannie. And?
[Craig Emerson MP @CraigEmersonMP
@harrypusspuss @johnsonofdaw @skiposs Lib Direct Action Plan would cost taxpayers $1300 per household]
I’d be surprised if it isn’t much, much more than that.
GG
[Just remember, what goes around comes around.]
Agree, when you knife the leader you have to expect to be knifed in return.
I’m sure that’s what you were referring to.
lizzie@1152
😀 It reflects my scepticism about exaggerated claims about ‘organic’ food.
Someone asked the other day whether you could still buy “unusual” meats in Canberra. Yes, you can, croc, goat etc.
I had crabmeat, taken out of crabs delivered fresh from the sea withing an hour of being caught, done in a thai curry and served with jasmine rice. Nothing else is needed, except a crisp white. I am making do with home-made lemonade with freshly picked mint.
Greensborough Growler@1156
Sure you weren’t in the DLP or some other organisation?
The ALP has always been a ferment of ideas and policy debate. And leadership issues are hardly anything new.
tlbd
My vegie garden (so-called) is very unhappy in the unaccustomed heat. The tomatoes rejected by the King Parrots are burnt pale brown on one side. I found figs dried on the branches, with the leaves all dropped. Only the zucchinis, bless their faithful hearts, have continued to produce.
Tony Abbott does look like he’s gone back to the aggressive mode.
This from today’s WA Liberal launch
Diogs,
I just reckon a three year tantrum is long enough.
I know the Ruddista’s don’t agree. But there you go.
I was born in the year of the snake.
I was born with eczema, could barely move as a child without constant lubrication. While not life threatening, very uncomfortable. Luckily we had a door-to-door salesman selling Ligmalene.
I always thought it was about an inability to shed skin. But that belongs to the psoriasis victims.
Anyway, it’s my year now, for no other reason that my birth date. I may end up with shedding snake skin and showing my true worth to the world.
Gotta love sky fairies (eh, lizzie?)
[… while poking fun at state Labor leader Mark McGowan about his birthdate in the Chinese year of the goat.]
So, JulieBishopMP was born in the year of the monkey. That explains her throwing her poop all over the place. #auspol
Puff
Sounds absolutely delicious. (My mint died, too. Sob)
lizzie@1158
Well when I did Chemistry in High School, Organic Chemistry was the chemistry of carbon compounds. That would include most, if not all, synthetic fabrics.
There is hardly any ‘inorganic’ food in our diet. All I can think of is salt.
sprocket:
Yes, we’ve been commenting on his and JBishop’s conduct at the launch.
Not a good look as the antics are being replayed around the country, not just in front of the Lib faithful!
kezza2
Hi 🙂
I was born with all over psoriasis, but luckily it was an acute form that went away early and didn’t return until after the stress of middle age.
[“Every Australian owes a debt to Western Australia and in an important sense, West Australians are the best Australians,” Mr Abbott said.]
Just what the feck do you mean by this Abbott? Please stay there if you like it so much.
bemused,
As a member you have an obligation to support the Party, the Leadership and it’s platform. The strength of Labor is always in unity of cause.
You do nothing but demonstrate your treachery to the cause every day. I really don’t know why you bother. Sure you can have an opinion and voice it within the Party.
You might remember and apply the old saying “The workers united will never be defeated”.
[There is hardly any ‘inorganic’ food in our diet. All I can think of is salt.]
And water.
Zucchini with lots of herbs is excellent. Pasta, cream, smidgen of grated hard cheese …
A little Pernod gives it a tarragon flavour.
bemused
I think it’s perfectly logical to be suspicious of all food claims. But if you taste the accredited meats, you can pick the rest so easily.
GG
What branch do you belong to?
Just name the Elecorate that will do no need to name the branch.
sprocket_,
Aah, the John Hopoate finger!
GG
What branch do you belong to? No need to name the branch just an idea of the electorate will do?
Sorry for the double up 1189 didn’t appear immediatley.
tlbd
Last week a baked casserole of sliced zucchini, finely sliced Tuscan cabbage, mint, eggs/milk, grated cheddar on top.
lizzie,
There’s always zucchini cake. With oil as the binding agent. Absolutely delicious! Rave reviews.
bemused
Yes, I know the theory, but what label could be used instead of “organic”, which has been around for ages. You couldn’t say “natural”. That’s been done to death. Non-polluted? That no good.
Anyone spot the error?
[It confirms the Labor Party’s battle is holding the line in NSW and Victoria with not a single Liberal-held seat on Labor’s target seat list as vulnerable to attack.]
or is it
[The target seats list also nominates eight Liberal seats as vulnerable to attack including Brisbane, Forde, Longman and Bonner in Queensland, Hasluck and Swan in WA, Boothby in SA and Solomon in the NT.]
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/leaked-labor-plan-to-sandbag-25-seats-at-election/story-fncyva0b-1226579482330
How can they publish this shit?
Greensborough Growler@1185
The ALP is not, and never has been, a Leninist Party.
ruawake@1184
Shit, no. NSW is welcome to him.
GG
As a wise person said
[“Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.”
]
Rua 1156 seems very clear to me what they were saying?
tlbd
I’ve heard of that but never made it. (Food notes make a pleasant change, dotted amongst the political angst!)