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THE LIBERALS struggled to get its tax cut message to Bendigo voters, even as the issue galvenised those in other parts of the nation.
The party's share of the vote collapsed in Bendigo, even as the party surged into power elsewhere off the back of its economic messages, Liberal candidate Sam Gayed said.
"Overall, in my reflection, people throughout the country have decided having tax cuts is more important than high spending," he said.
Voters swung away from the Liberals in the marginal seat of Bendigo, delivering Labor's Lisa Chesters nearly sixty per cent of the two-party preferred vote, according to the Australian Electoral Commission after 80.23 per cent of the vote was counted.
"This seat has been with Labor for a long time, so people are kind of used to how election campaigns have usually run - mainly based on pledges in the region," Mr Gayed said.
The Liberals made no Bendigo-specific pledges. Labor made about $30 million worth of promises in, and at the outskirts, of the electorate.
Mr Gayed said the party might need to rethink how aggressive it was about getting its messages about tax cuts and Labor spending.
"They (people in Bendigo) weren't alerted to that point that you also benefit when you get tax cuts. It's the same thing, but you receive it in a different manner," Mr Gayed said.
The Liberals' primary vote dropped by 6.03 per cent, while Labor picked up 5.49 per cent, according to the Australian Electoral Commission after 80.23 per cent of the vote was counted.
Pauline Hanson's One Nation took 6.02 per cent of the vote while Clive Palmer's United Australia Party took 4.36 per cent.
Mr Gayed did not believe a crowded field of populist and extreme-right candidates affected his primary vote.
"Probably the point (was) I needed to work more on my message and getting it across," Mr Gayed said.
Mr Gayed was yet to speak to people in the party about what they could take away for future election contests in Bendigo.
"At the end of the day, we will still benefit from this outcome. There will be less taxing. And wise spending," he said.
The businessman was looking forward to spending time with his family and returning to work after the election.
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