The Liberals' Bendigo branch needs to build better relationships both within the party and in the community to present a strong alternative to Labor at the next federal and state elections, its head says.
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With more than 80 per cent of votes counted by Monday afternoon, federal Liberal candidate Sam Gayed had 40.77 per cent of the vote on a two-candidate preferred basis to Labor's Lisa Chesters' 59.23 per cent - a swing of 5.36 per cent away from the party.
Branch chairman Matthew Evans said people wanted to vote for the Coalition, but they had not given them a reason to at the past two elections.
He said it made things "very difficult" locally when Labor was promising a lot of funding for projects and the Liberal party was not.
Mr Evans said the branch needed to foster relationships within the party because they needed to campaign hard internally to gain promises.
Steve Martin, the Liberal candidate for Indi, achieved a much better result, he said, because he was well-supported.
Indi was won by independent Helen Haines, but Mr Martin saw a 3.91 per cent swing towards the Liberals and collected 48.39 per cent of the vote to date.
It was also important the branch talked to and had a presence within the community, Mr Evans said, as they did not do enough to seek out what the issues were to voters.
But Mr Evans did not agree with some suggestions that the Liberal party had abandoned the seat of Bendigo.
He said the party did provide assistance in this election and the branch had a good working relationship with party.
Mr Evans said the branch would work on a strategy to compete at both the state and federal elections in three years' time.
As the recently-appointed president, he said his goals were to build relationships with the party headquarters as well as community groups, sporting clubs, the RSL and others within the local community.
Mr Evans said this would mean not only having a presence, but acting as advocates.
He said they would also work with the executive of other branches.
"Twenty-seven thousand people are still willing to vote for the Coalition, we owe it to them and the people who want to vote Liberal," Mr Evans said.
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
