LIBERAL candidate for Bendigo Megan Purcell says she is happy with her campaign and expected the Coalition to be able to form government, but lamented “dirty” politics.
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Ms Purcell won 30,661 first preference votes – just 600 less than incumbent Labor MP Lisa Chesters.
The Maldon businesswoman made a number of funding announcements during the campaign, in which she was joined by high profile ministers Julie Bishop, Greg Hunt and Mitch Fifield.
Ms Purcell said she was pleased that the Coalition was likely to form government.
“It’s a very nice feeling to know that all of the commitments we made during the campaign are going to happen. I feel great for those community groups,” she said.
“In eight weeks, I managed to deliver more than $10 million to the electorate of Bendigo – that’s more than the current member has been able to deliver.”
Her first tilt at federal politics did not leave a completely positive impression, however.
Ms Purcell claims the Labor Party’s budget was 10 times her own, and believed volunteers were working in “shifts” to call contact constituents about Medicare.
She said Labor had run a dishonest campaign.
“I learnt an enormous amount. Politics is really dirty, for one,” Ms Purcell said.
“I was disappointed by the Medicare lies. To have them confess that volunteers worked in shifts to scare grannies was really sad.
“If you have to lie to win, then that’s the way it goes.
“There’s no doubt that having the incumbent at state and federal levels make a huge difference.”
Ms Purcell spent election night with supporters at her Mollison Street electoral office. She said she will continue to support Liberal Party causes, having served as a member for 15 years.
Re-elected member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters addressed the health issue during her victory speech at Trades Hall, and repeated claims that only Labor would “save” Medicare.
She stood by the assertion that the Coalition planned to “privatise” the health service.