THE POLL BLUDGER
Victorian Legislative Assembly Election 2006

BENALLA
Nationals 2.0%

Benalla covers 17,000 square kilometres of rural territory to the north-east of Melbourne, including the towns of Nagambie, Eildon and Bright as well as Benalla itself. It was in conservative and mostly National/Country Party hands until May 2000, when Nationals leader Pat McNamara quit politics in the wake of the defeat of the Kennett government. The ensuing by-election saw Labor's Denise Allen narrowly defeat the Nationals candidate, veterinarian and agricultural consultant Bill Sykes (left), on the back of a 7.8 per cent swing, but Sykes won the re-match at the 2002 election despite struggling to secure second place on the primary vote ahead of Liberal candidate Andrew Dwyer (27.1 per cent to 26.0 per cent). This time the Liberals have nominated Hamish McMillan (right), local branch president of the Victorian Farmers Federation.

The government’s ban on cattle grazing at the Alpine National Park was publicised during a protest by farmers and graziers at Parliament House on the last Monday of the campaign, which was headed by 200 aggrieved mountain cattlemen on horseback. Ted Baillieu by all accounts received a warm reception at the protest, which was not attended by any Labor representatives. The issue also emerged during the 2004 election campaign when it was revealed the federal Department of Environment had made a submission supporting the ban, despite Nationals member for Gippsland Peter McGauran assuring the cattlemen they had the federal government’s support.

ASSESSMENT: Nationals retain