Politics & Council
16 June, 2026
The wait begins for candidate lock-ins.
ONE Nation could name its candidates within weeks to contest crucial Victorian country electorates at November’s state poll.
ONE Nation could name its candidates within weeks to contest crucial Victorian country electorates at November’s state poll.
Gannawarra Mayor Garner Smith had expression of interest submitted for Murray Plains before the May 31 closing date.
At least two other people are believed to have put up their hand to contest Murray Plains against former VFF president Brett Hosking who the Nationals have selected as their candidate to succeed the retiring Peter Walsh.
Sources have told the Loddon Herald that more than 1100 expressions of interest were received by One National for the 88 Lower House an 40 Upper House seats up for grabs on November 28.
A series of opinion polls over the past week have seen One Nation surge ahead of both Labor and the Coalition.
The Liberal Party is expected to stand a candidate in Murray Plains. Under the Coaliton agreement, it has not contested the seat since first won by Mr Walsh in 2002.
The rise of One Nation has commentators suggesting the first seat in Victoria’s Legislative Assembly to be claimed by the party of leader Pauline Hanson could be Ripon.
Martha Haylett won the seat off the Liberals at the last election and has a margin of 2.8 per cent.
Ms Haylett has devoted much of campaigning time to outer Ballarat suburbs that make up an estimated 45 per cent of the seat’s voter base.
She has faced criticism for voting to introduce the emergency services tax and claims the Government has steam-rolled the controversial VNI West renewable energy transmission line process.
In Loddon, there is community anger over the Government’s backflip on an ambulance station for Wedderburn.
Nationals candidate Jo Armstrong was endorsed last month but the Liberals are still to name their candidate in Ripon.
Read More: Loddon Shire