Labor MP Lisa Chesters was unwilling to claim favouritism and predicted another close finish as both parties rush to the finish. Pre-polling passed 15,000 on Thursday, a significant increase on earlier years.

The margin of 1.3 per cent made it one of the most marginal in Australia, but Bendigo failed to raise much interest outside of its own boundaries throughout the campaign.

Speaking on Thursday, Ms Chesters said she always expected a narrow outcome.

“Bendigo has always been a marginal seat, it is always one where we work really hard – every vote counts. It’s a seat where people take their vote very seriously,” she said.

“I’m feeling good, there’s lots of great support out there, but again it’s a seat on election night that will always be close.”

The ongoing CFA dispute continued to dominate metropolitan media coverage in the final week of the campaign, adding to the feeling that an upset could be brewing in Bendigo.

Volunteers were expected to have a presence near polling booths in the electorate.

Ms Chesters said voters are “really smart” and understood it was a state issue.

“They know that the state government needs to fix it, and I join them in that call,” she said.

“Clearly there are structural issues within the CFA. Clearly we don’t know the full story.

“It really is up to the state Labor goverment to fix the mess, that’s for sure.”

Liberal candidate Megan Purcell brought up the CFA issue while responding to Labor’s $1.5 million commitment to reopen the Australian Emergency Management Institute at Mount Macedon.

She also issued a press release on the issue on June 27, questioning Ms Chesters’ commitment to volunteers.

Ms Purcell’s solution to the situation was for the federal government to “amend legislation to protect volunteers and override Labor’s deal to hand control of the CFA to the firefighters union”.

The party also promised to use “federal powers” in Fair Work Commission and the courts.

Often a reliable indicator on election outcomes, Sportsbet put Lisa Chesters at $1.10 to win the seat, compared with $4 for Megan Purcell.

Even the Liberal Party’s struggling McEwen candidate Chris Jermyn had relatively decent odds of $5.50. 

Greens candidate Rosemary Glaisher said she expected Labor to retain the seat on the back of Greens preferences.

“The fact that Lisa has our preferences is a big plus,” she said.

“I’ve heard a general feeling of disenchantment towards both of the old parties. People feel they’re getting closer together on their policies.”

Ms Glaisher said the CFA dispute had not been mentioned to her at pre-poll, but was unsure what conversations voters had with the Labor and Liberal candidates.

Ms Purcell was contacted for comment.