THE POLL BLUDGER
Victorian Legislative Assembly Election 2006

DANDENONG
Labor 20.3%

The south-eastern suburban centre of Dandenong is invariably perceived as a low-rent Labor stronghold, but was in fact a marginal seat prior to 1969. The Jeff Kennett landslides whittled the margin back to 3.0 per cent (1992) and 3.4 per cent (1996), such that Kennett entered the 1999 election with the grand hope that a win here might contribute to an increased majority. The mismatch between his hopes for that election and the reality were demonstrated by a 2.4 per cent swing to Labor, with a further 9.1 per cent swing in 2002 returning the seat deep into the Labor half of the pendulum. The member since 1992 has been former Finance Sector Union organiser John Pandazopolous (left), a member of the Socialist Left faction who rose to cabinet on the election of the Bracks government and currently holds the portfolios of tourism, racing and gaming. Paul Austin of The Age reported in August that he is likely to be a victim of a cabinet shake-up after the election if the government is returned. Liberal candidate Cameron Nicholls (right) is a "municipal contract supervisor for a large scale recycling company".

ASSESSMENT: Labor retain