By Corey Everitt
Despite unofficial campaigns underway and an announcement of the next Federal Election around the corner, some experts and politicians are left puzzled as a Labor Party candidate has yet to surface in many areas including the local seat of La Trobe.
On a day no later than May this year, the country will go to the polls to decide the next Federal Government.
Well before that day, the branches of the major parties typically preselect a candidate to contest their respective seat.
The Liberal Party, eager to return to power this year, announced their candidates throughout 2024. Liberal candidate for Bruce, Zahid Safi, formally announced his contest against Labor’s Julian Hill in April last year.
Yet, a Labor candidate in the neighbouring seat of La Trobe, held by Liberal Jason Wood, is nowhere to be seen with mere months to go before the election.
Monash University’s Head of Politics and International Relations, Dr Zareh Ghazarian said that though this has been seen before, it is still unusual to see Labor leaving it so late.
“It is a bit surprising, that Labor does not have someone yet who is out there raising their profile and talking to the community,” Dr Ghazarian said.
“Because it is a growing part of Melbourne with Clyde North, Berwick, there would be interest from voters about the policy the major parties would have on infrastructure, roads, housing and cost-of-living”
This is not isolated to La Trobe, Star News has yet to see a Labor candidate for the Liberal-held seat of Casey and the formerly-Liberal, now independent seat of Monash.
Dr Ghazarian can only speculate about Labor’s strategy.
With opinion polls such as Roy Morgan stating Australia would have a hung parliament if the election was held today, the Labor Party could be focusing on holding the fort and picking off some marginal seats.
As Mr Wood holds La Trobe with an eight percent margin the seat may not be on Labor’s list of priorities.
However, that still doesn’t explain why there is little activity to mobilse the membership base.
“The numbers are so close in Parliament, you would think the party would try to maximise its support base and it could do that through the preselection of candidates, campaigning to raise their profile and maximising their support,” Dr Ghazarian said.
Furthermore, Liberal Aaron Violi holds the seat of Casey by a mere 1.5 percent and there is yet to be any word of a Labor challenger.
The seat of Monash has comfortably leaned Liberal for the last 20 years, but in 2025 it is set to have a strong field outside of the major parties with Voices for Monash and former-Liberal Russell Broadbent running independently which could bleed the Liberal Party’s vote depending on preferences.
Labor candidate in 2022, Jessica O’Donnell announced she will not run again in Monash for 2025. Star News is not aware of a new Labor candidate.
Outside of picking up a high-profile candidate, Dr Ghazarian thinks it certainly puts a candidate on the backfoot to start this late.
“It’s not unusual, there are cases of this in the past, but it is intriguing to see Labor’s approach so far,” Dr Ghazarian said.
“Even if a candidate was selected right now, they would have just over three months to raise their profile and get their message out there.”
La Trobe MP Jason Wood has been making pledges to local organisations since last year in the lead-up to the election and has still yet to see who his main opponent will be for 2025.
“It’s disappointing that no one has raised their hand yet and I think it shows disrespect for the area,” Mr Wood said.
“Considering this is a growth area there are many issues the community wants addressed.”
Without much of a campaign from Labor, his pledges largely go unanswered and Mr Wood believes the community misses out.
“One of my first election commitments was funding for RDA Pakenham and I was really hoping Labor would match that,” Mr Wood said.
“Usually by now, you would have a candidate selected with announcements being made while you are out there in the community working out other issues you need to take on.
“The good thing for the community is if the parties can match each other, it is secured for them either way.”
