THE POLL BLUDGER
Victorian Legislative Assembly Election 2006
SHEPPARTON
Nationals 4.3% versus Liberal
| Region | Northern Victoria |
| Federal | Murray |
| Candidates | Doug Ralph (Greens) James Taylor (Labor) Neil Martin Meyer (Family First) Stephen Merrylees (Liberal) Jeanette Powell (Nationals) |
| Click here for VEC electorate profile | |
The town of Shepparton is located 200 kilometres north of Melbourne, and sits at the centre of an electorate covering 1,800 square kilometres including Mooroopna and Tatura. The seat has been held by the National/Country Party since its creation in 1945 (it was abolished in 1955 and revived in 1967), although the Liberals performed creditably in their attempt to win the seat upon the retirement of sitting member Don Kilgour in 2002. Their candidate Stephen Merrylees outpolled the Nationals' Jeanette Powell (left), who had been member for the upper house province of North Eastern since 1996, by 30.3 per cent to 28.9 per cent on the primary vote. However, preferences from Labor (21.9 per cent) and independent candidate Chris Hazelman (15.8 per cent) went strongly to the Nationals and gave Powell a 4.3 per cent victory. In February it was reported that Labor was threatening to direct its preferences to the Liberals instead of the Nationals, which would almost certainly cost them the seat. The Liberals have again nominated Stephen Merryless (right), a former mayor of Strathbogie.
Along with Rodney, Shepparton loomed as the Nationals seat most likely to fall to the Liberals as a result of Labor's apparent decision to put the Liberals ahead of the Nationals on their how-to-vote cards, in contrast to traditional practice. However, at the start of the final week of the campaign the ABC reported that "the Labor Party is considering changing its preferencing five days out from the state election, to preference the National member over the Liberal candidate". The report quotes Labor candidate James Taylor saying his cards would indeed put Jeanette Powell ahead of Liberal challenger Stephen Merrylees, in reaction to the Liberals' decision to direct preferences to the Greens in key inner-city seats. It also quoted a "senior ALP source" who described the new-look ticket as "the party’s interim position".
ASSESSMENT: Nationals retain