LIBERAL candidate for Bendigo East Ian Ellis queried the amount of support the Liberal hierarchy had provided to his campaign.
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He said a number of projects he wanted to progress, like money for a feasibility study for a Bendigo ring road and infrastructure improvements for Eaglehawk bowls club, were overlooked.
“When you look at the amount of money that was promised in other seats, I just think money that’s promised should be equal in each region regardless of the margin of the seat. All of Victoria is important,” he said.
The Coalition made a swathe of statewide promises before the election, including the $19 billion high-speed regional rail link which planned to cut a journey from Bendigo to Melbourne to 70 minutes.
However aside from a $150,000 commitment toward floodlights at Huntly Football-Netball Club and $100,000 for a new shelter for the basketball court at Epsom Primary School and a last ditch promise to give the state government banking contract to Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, very few commitments were made in comparison to other regional seats.
Mr Ellis congratulated Labor MP Jacinta Allan on her victory, but suggested she “bought” the win with her promises.
As of mid-afternoon on Sunday, Ms Allan had a margin of around 12 per cent over Mr Ellis with three-quarters of votes counted.
Mr Ellis congratulated Labor MP Jacinta Allan on her victory, but suggested she “bought” the win with her promises.
“Now she’s got to make sure she delivers them,” he said.
Reflecting on the preliminary vote, Mr Ellis said it had been “a wipe out” for the Liberals across Victoria, but it “wasn’t as bad in Bendigo East”, which, he said, was reflective of his campaign.
Bendigo West Liberal candidate Kevin Finn said he would have preferred a little more time to make an impact on voters in his electorate.
Mr Finn had a 45-day campaign after being preselected in October.
“It was difficult to try and develop my profile and have people recognise you as the Liberal candidate for Bendigo West,” he said.
Despite this, he doesn’t see his short campaign as a waste, and has already hinted at putting his hand up for preselection for the federal Liberal Party with the federal election approaching.
“I’ve had a lot of support,” he said.
“We’ve got a small dedicated group of volunteers.”
