By GARRY HOWE
IT was a celebration of sorts, but not the one they had hoped for.
Liberal supporters were a bit sombre as they gathered post-election at the Outlook Community Centre in Pakenham on Saturday night.
Brad Battin was well on the way to securing Gembrook for a second term; Brian Paynter looked safe, but was not yet assured, of taking Bass, and Ed O’Donohue headed the Upper House ticket and was safely back in Parliament.
The reason for the long faces was that it had become apparent they would be in Opposition, with the TV sets strewn around the room showing that the Daniel Andrews-led Labor Party was surging back into power.
When he arrived soon after 9pm, Mr Battin made a bee-line for his parents Philip and Joan and was soon locked in a tearful embrace.
“It’s a tough night,” he said, pointing to the TV. “You really want to celebrate, but it’s a bit hard with this going on.”
Mr O’Donohue had arrived a few minutes earlier, looking drawn and tired. He will retain his seat, but not his ministerial portfolio.
It’s not as fulfilling or rewarding on the Opposition side; probably a bit easier though.
Local Liberal stalwarts Margaret Burridge and Helen Reid were on hand to lift his spirits, asking him to smile for a photo.
Mr Paynter was more upbeat – but still in doubt.
Although it appeared likely he would claim the seat of Bass vacated by former Speaker and long-time MP Ken Smith, it wasn’t yet guaranteed and he was keeping the parliamentary powder dry.
After a lot of handshakes, a few hugs and the odd selfie, Mr Battin grabbed the microphone and handed it to his youngest daughter Chloe, who got the crowd to its feet with a rousing rendition of the national anthem.
When she handed it back to Dad, he began by acknowledging his Upper House colleague, whom he described as a terrific mate, and reflected that it had been a day of great encouragement in the growth corridor, as he was well on the way to increasing the margin in Gembrook to somewhere north of 10 per cent.
“We are not ready to give up,” he declared.
He spoke of how tough the job can be – no doubt referring in part to the heavy-handed treatment dished out to his wife Joanne by a group of protesters only months earlier.
“When you take this job, you put your hand up to be criticised,” he said.
“You put your hand up to be pushed, shoved, abused and accused.
“You walk down the street and have people yelling at you that you have your snout in the trough. That’s not pleasant.
“But you put your hand up because you want to do something for your community.”
Mr Battin said that being an MP had to be one of the most time-consuming roles and the sacrifice was spending too much time away from his wife and children Mikaela and Chloe.
When he got to his parents, he deliberately averted his eyes.
“I always cry when I look at them,” he smiled.
“If I could be anything in my life, I would want to be half the man my father is. Thanks Mum and Dad.”
Mr Battin said the result was not the one he wanted – “and certainly not the one my Sportsbet account wanted” – but there were lessons to be taken from it.
“I have to praise the Opposition, or the former Opposition,” he said.
“They stayed disciplined, they stayed together and they kept any issues in-house.
“We must do the same – we must work through any issues together.”
He warned the new Bass MP that he had opened himself up to scrutiny and “that a lot of that criticism would come from within this room”.
Mr Paynter didn’t flinch and looked ready to take it in his stride.
“Jeepers, what a journey,” he said, when handed the microphone.
“It’s not over just yet. I’m confident we have done a good job. We left no stone unturned and not one pavement unwalked in the campaign.”
He acknowledged his mentors – father Ray and McMillan MP Russell Broadbent, who, he said, had planted the political seed years ago at a football match between Pakenham and Narre Warren.
He thanked wife Liz and his children Chloe, Abbey and Libby for their love and support, his campaign team led by Ann Selby and the Pakenham community for such an enjoyable upbringing.
“Life is full of challenges,” he said of the state-wide result.
“We have to lift our head and forge forward.”
Sounding a bit like a football coach and turning to his future parliamentary colleagues he said: “You guys are the leaders – let’s get there and get it done”.
