Liberal landslide again in Narracan

Liam DURKIN

AS expected, the seat of Narracan was won by Liberal candidate Wayne Farnham.

Mr Farnham had secured 62.7 per cent of two-party preferred voteswhen 75 percent of votes had been counted on electionnight.

Narracan voters went to the polls on Saturday, January 28 two months after the state electionfollowingthe deathof Nationals candidate Shaun Gilchrist.

Farnham is set to take over from retiring Liberal MP Gary Blackwood, who held the seat since 2006.

Mr Farnham’selection is tipped to be virtually acontinuation of Mr Blackwood’s reign.

With Narracan asafe Liberal seat, the chances of aFarnham victory werealways high (therehas been just one non-Liberal MP servethe districtsincethe seatwas established in 1967).

The odds became even shorter when it was announced Labor would not be putting anyone up to run against him, while The Nationals opted not to find a replacement for Mr Gilchrist.

Given this, the election was seen as virtually aone-horse race in the eyes of many pundits.

Afield of 11, mostly made up of independents -which included Baw Baw Shire Mayor,Annemarie McCabe -threw their hat in the ring.

From the outset, the Liberals main challenger appeared to be Independent and former Baw Baw deputy mayor,Tony Wolfe.

Mr Wolfe secured 37.3 per cent.

Upon his election, Mr Farnham thanked thosefor the confidence they had shown inhim.

“I think the peopleofNarracan realise that my message, which was ‘I have ateam, I’m part of areally strongteam,’ hasresonated with them,” he told ABC

“I just hope Ican do them proud when I get in there.”

Mr Farnham said his main priority would be seeing the new West Gippsland Hospital, committed to by the Labor state government last year,come to fruition.

The new Member for Narracan grew up in the area, and worked in construction beforeentering politics.

While Labor convincingly won government at the November election, Farnham’s win does give the Coalitionone moreseat than it held after the 2018 state election.

Locally, the Liberals and Nationals now have elected members from Gippsland East all the way to Pakenham.

Nationals MPs TimBull and Danny O’Brien werere-elected in Gippsland East and GippslandSouth respectively, while Martin Cameron took the seat of Morwell.

Liberal leaderJohn Pesutto, himself a Gippsland boy (bornin Traralgon), congratulated Mr Farnham on his victory

.“I congratulate and welcome Wayne Farnham to the parliamentary Liberal Party as the new Member for Narracan,” he said.

“Over manymonths,Waynehas run a strong local campaign, earning the trust of his community and demonstrating his ability to be apowerful and effective voice for Narracan.

“The effort he has displayed, along with his team, has been reflected in today’s result.

“Wayne has been aloud advocate for local issues such as the much-needed West Gippsland Hospital, and has proven he will work tirelessly in the interest of his local community.

“He brings with him awealth of knowledge and Ilook forwardtoworking closely with him over the next four years. Iwould also like to take this opportunity to thank the outgoing Member for Narracan, Gary Blackwood, for his contribution and dedication to his local electorate and to the Victorian Liberal Partyover the past 16 years.

“I wish him and his family well in retirement.”

While the Liberals will no doubt be celebrating their win, hopefully the new member doesn’t have as many comebacks as the other Farnham