Left: Labor’s Laura Smyth, right, was able to take the seat of La Trobe with the support of visiting bigwigs PM Julia Gillard, left, and Bob Hawke. 51660
By Melissa Meehan
IT WAS a tale of three Liberals. Two survived, one didn’t.
LaTrobe’s Jason Wood was the major loser on the day, conceding he would need a ‘minor miracle’ to reclaim the seat he has held for the past six years.
On Tuesday, as there were still votes to be counted, Mr Wood was winning on two-party preferred basis, but was losing to the ALP’s Laura Smyth after preferences.
McMillan’s Russell Broadbent and Flinders’ Greg Hunt were able to hold onto their seats, despite significant swings to the Greens.
Mr Wood assured La Trobe residents a Coalition Government would honour his funding commitments, which included Clyde Road funding, a new tourism centre, weed controls and a fire warning system.
“The reason I got into politics was making my home area a better place to live,” he said.
“If those things are delivered and I’m not there as the local member, that’s OK. There’s a bigger picture.”
Mr Wood said he planned to “try his hand” at another field, look at a few projects and find new jobs for his staff. He has no plans to contest the seat again.
“But I know you should never say never,” he said.
Mr Hunt spent election day visiting 55 polling booths throughout his electorate.
He said he wanted to visit the whole electorate to ensure his constituents knew he was serious about his role as their representative.
“I’m very gratified and thankful for people having given me the opportunity to represent them again,” Mr Hunt said.
He said his party was in a good position to win the election, and support from voters in Kooweerup and Lang Lang was indicative of the community’s wants and needs.
“One reason I want to win government is to deliver a Kooweerup bypass to people in my electorate,” he said.
“They have been waiting a long time.”
Mr Broadbent said Pakenham was always the key, and was true to his word, spending the majority of election day in the growing town.
It seems his work paid off, winning the seat comfortably, with 49.22 per cent of the vote.
“I said all along that the seat could be won or lost in Pakenham,” Mr Broadbent said.
“It is our largest population area.”
He first heard the news of the win while at a post-election party in Warragul with family, friends and staffers.
“It’s a great relief to win for the fourth time,” Mr Broadbent said.
“It is a very difficult seat to hold, it has always been volatile, which is why we ran a very strong campaign.”
Mr Broadbent said he was humbled by the personal vote he received from constituents.
