WHEN voters head to the polls on 18 May, they will have eight candidates to choose from for the seat of Dunkley.
Nominations for the federal election closed last week, with the final lineup now set. Sitting MP Chris Crewther will contest the seat for the Liberal Party. His slim margin is set to be tested by Labor candidate Peta Murphy.
The Greens will run Emily Green as their candidate. On the extreme opposite side of the political spectrum, far-right senator Fraser Anning will run a candidate for the seat. Mr Anning, who was censured by the senate for racist remarks made in the wake of the Christchurch terror attack, established his own party last month and will run candidate Christopher James in the seat of Dunkley. Both major parties have preferenced Mr James last on their how to vote cards.
Elizabeth Johnston is named as the Animal Justice Party candidate, while Lachlan O’Connell will run for Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party. Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party have named Ronald Jean as their candidate, while Rise Up Australia Party have named Yvonne Gentle.
Independent candidate Spencer Porter had been campaigning for months, but announced on 23 April that he had “overlooked a part of the nomination process” and would not be on the ballot paper.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison campaigned in a number of marginal Victorian electorates last week, but did not make an appearance in Dunkley.
The seat has been in Liberal hands since 1996 when Bruce Billson won it. After Mr Billson stepped down after 20 years as local MP, Chris Crewther was preselected to contest the 2016 election. Mr Crewther won that battle by defeating Labor candidate Peta Murphy, but suffered a big hit in the process.
Mr Crewther’s 2016 win was a narrow one, as the margin closed to 1.43 per cent. Redistribution has closed that gap even further.
