THE POLL BLUDGER
Victorian Legislative Assembly Election 2006
SWAN HILL
Nationals 14.2%
| Region | Northern Victoria |
| Federal | Mallee/Murray/Wannon |
| Candidates | Trudy Campbell (CEC) Suellen Tomamichel (Liberal) Martin Patrick Jones (Family First) Glenn Morrison (Labor) Peter Walsh (Nationals) Simon Roberts (Greens) |
| Click here for VEC electorate profile | |
Swan Hill covers a large 28,000 square kilometre area of north-western Victoria beyond the Murray River town that bears its name, extending south to Warracknabeal and St Arnaud. The seat has been in conservative hands since its creation in 1904; Liberal candidate Alan Wood defeated sitting Country Party member Henry Broad to take the seat in 1973, but Barry Steggall recovered it for them when Wood retired in 1983. Steggall in turn retired in 2002 and was succeeded by Victorian Farmers Federation president Peter Walsh (right), who outpolled Liberal candidate Suellen Tomamichel 34.8 per cent to 26.8 per cent. In February it was reported that Labor was considering directing its preferences to the Liberals in a bid to "finish off" the Nationals, which would very likely cost them seat going on the 2002 results.
ASSESSMENT: Nationals retain