THE POLL BLUDGER
Victorian Legislative Assembly Election 2006

MELTON
Labor 15.3%

Melton is located just beyond Melbourne's north-western fringe, extending west from Melton itself to Bacchus Marsh, north to Blackwood and south to Balliang. The electorate was created in 1992 upon the abolition of Derrimut; such has been the advance of urban sprawl that the latter has since been recreated some distance to the south-east. The seat has been comfortably safe for Labor at all times, being held by David Cunningham until 1999 and henceforth by Don Nardella (left), a former welder whose listed interests include motorcycling and heavy metal music. A member of the hard left Pledge faction, Nardella entered parliament as member for the upper house province of Melbourne North in 1992 and held portfolios in opposition including aged care and consumer affairs. However, he was not given a ministry when the Bracks government came to power in 1999 – it was widely reported at the time he had been dumped, although he told the media he did not stand because he wished to devote his energies to his new electorate. According to Andrew Landeryou, Melton is "known as the Killing Fields for factional deals", one of which involved David Cunningham defeating "an official Labor Unity candidate ... despite a deal between Left and Right on the seat". Similarly, a challenge to Nardella this year from Ken Hardy, a local branch member said to be linked to the Left faction Electrical Trades Union, was seen off when Nardella won the local vote 63-37 – enough to narrowly overcome majority support for Hardy on the party's public office selection committee. Liberal candidate Graham Hooper (right) is listed as a "property manager".

ASSESSMENT: Labor retain