PHILIP HOPKINS
By PHILIP HOPKINS
EXAMINATION shows that The Nationals’ Martin Cameron won the seat of Morwell at the state election with majority support in Traralgon and rural areas, while Labor’s Kate Maxfield took a majority of votes in Morwell, Moe and Newborough. Both parties were about even in Churchill. A majority of people also voted before polling day, according to data from the Victorian Electoral Commission. On a two-party preferred votes, Mr Cameron received 23,801 votes (54.65 per cent) and Dr Maxfield 19,749 votes (45.35 per cent), but a break-down by voting centre shows the pattern of support. However, this only shows the comparison based on these who vote at polls on the day; 16,105 people voted on the day compared with 26,602 early votes, 2834 postal votes and 196 provisional votes. A total of 1050 people did not vote. The two-party preferred votes in the various voting centres, with Nationals (N) and Labor (ALP), were respectively: Churchill N 487, ALP 485; Glengarry N 328, ALP 154; Hazelwood North N 304, ALP 140; Moe N 575, ALP 691; Moe Central N 343, ALP 457; Moe West N 475, ALP 420; Morwell N 353, ALP 346; Morwell Central N 224, ALP 230; Morwell East N 59, ALP 87; Morwell Estate N 451, ALP 471; Newborough N 395, ALP 478; Newborough East N 472, ALP 500; Traralgon N 779, ALP 650; Traralgon East N 790, ALP 574; Traralgon North East N 282, ALP 216; Traralgon South N 176, ALP 112; Traralgon West N 230, ALP 191; Tyers N 198, ALP 106; and Yallourn North N 215, ALP 250. Of the total votes cast on the day, 7840 went to Martin Cameron and 7003 to Kate Maxfield. Early votes strongly favoured Mr Cameron (13,988) compared with Dr Maxfield (10,877). Of the two Coalition candidates, the Nats’ Mr Cameron and the Liberals’ Dale Harriman, Mr Harriman won the vote only in Moe and central Newborough. Their performance in the respective voting centres was Churchill L 112, N 196; Glengarry L 70, N 174; Hazelwood North L 70, N 130; Moe L 170, N 146; Moe Central L 106, N 80; Moe West L 139, N 127; Morwell L 96, N 137; Morwell Central L 60, N 87; Morwell East L 8, N 28; Morwell Estate L 108, N 169; Newborough L 107, N 91; Newborough East L 113, N 115; Traralgon L 205, N 341; Traralgon East L 185, N 372; Traralgon North L 174, N 307; Traralgon North East L 65, N 150; Traralgon South L 46, N 79; Traralgon West L 60, N 103; Tyers L 56, N 96; and Yallourn North L 39, N 69. The first preference votes for the various candidates were: Dale Harriman (Lib) 6710 (15.51 per cent); Martin Cameron (Nat) 9902 (22.89 per cent); Alex Maidana (Freedom Party) 900 (2.08 per cent); Rochelle Hine (Greens) 1830 (4.23 per cent); Lisa Proctor 469 (1.08 per cent); Brendan Clarke (Family First) 749 (1.73 per cent); Jessica McAuliffe (Animal Justice) 687 (1.59 per cent); Kate Maxfield (Labor) 13,601 (31.44 per cent), Sharon Gibson 2515 (5.81 per cent); Tracie Lund 1206 (2.79 per cent), Allan Hicken (One Nation) 2648 (6.12 per cent) and David Snelling (Shooters, Fishers, Farmers) 2044 (4.72 per cent). Total enrolment in the electorate was 53,782. The number of formal votes cast was 43,261, with 3526 informal votes (7.54 per cent of the total votes). The total votes – 46,787 – was 86.99 per cent of the total enrolment.
