THE POLL BLUDGER
Victorian Legislative Assembly Election 2006

RODNEY
Nationals 10.0% versus Liberal

Rodney covers the central part of Victoria's border with New South Wales, from Echuca on the Murray River south through Rochester and Stanhope to Heathcote. Its existence goes back all the way to the establishment of the first electoral boundaries in 1856, in which time it has never been held by Labor. Agrarian candidates of one type or another have held the seat since 1917, with the National/Country Party's having held it uninterrupted since 1944. Noel Maughan has been the member since 1989, and is retiring at the coming poll. The new Nationals candidate is Victorian Farmers Federation president Paul Weller (right), who won preselection ahead of Murray Shire councillor Richard Hyett and Campaspe councillor Kevin Simpson. The Liberals have nominated Campaspe shire councillor Neil Repacholi. In February it was reported Labor was considering directing preferences to the Liberals ahead of the Nationals in a bid to finish the latter off; given that Maughan only outpolled a Liberal candidate 34.5 per cent to 30.5 per cent in 2002, this would very likely cost them the seat, especially in light of the loss of a sitting member.

On October 16, the government unveiled the $260 million "Goldfields Superpipe" proposal to pump 38 gigalitres from the Goulburn River to Bendigo and Ballarat, which have been hit by severe restrictions during the current dry spell. Liberal water spokesman Denis Napthine slammed the inclusion of Ballarat in the project, declaring: "People in the Goulburn Valley and the Goulburn irrigation system are absolutely ropeable about the Bracks government moving into their irrigation district and stealing their water for Ballarat". Most of the irrigation area to which Napthine refers is located in Rodney.

ASSESSMENT: LIBERAL GAIN