Anam Cara House to get $2.7m bedroom boost if Liberals form government

The first local funding announcement since the election was called on Friday has been made, with an end of life facility located on the ground of Deakin University front and centre.

Anam Cara House chair Diana Taylor at the Highton facility. Picture: Brad Fleet.

A Geelong end of life facility will get the funds it needs to deliver eight additional palliative care beds if the Liberal Party forms government, as new research shows softening support for the Coalition across the region.

Darcy Dunstan, the Liberal candidate in Corangamite, announced a $2.7m commitment on Monday at Anam Cara House in Highton.

The pledge comes a month after it emerged that a $940,000 contribution from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts had been pulled because ACH could not match the funds within the required time period.

Mr Dunstan said in addition to the eight new bedrooms, each with an ensuite, the funding would see the construction of two living areas, a dining room and hydrotherapy bath.

Unlike the money it was granted in October 2021 via the federal government’s Building Better Regions Fund, there is no requirement for ACH to match the funding.

“Anam Cara House Geelong, an accredited private hospital, provides crucial health care to those suffering end-of-life and life-limiting illnesses – this now includes local veterans,” Mr Dunstan said.

“It is vital we secure the future of this essential facility.

“The Albanese government’s decision to terminate $940,000 of grant funding has put these eight palliative care beds at risk of being scrapped and we cannot allow that to happen.”

Senator Sarah Henderson joined Mr Dunstan for the announcement, having played a key role in ACH attaining $5m of federal funds in 2016.

“The Liberals won’t stand by and allow these additional palliative care bedrooms and 3000 additional bed nights of care to be put at risk,” she said.

Darcy Dunstan held his campaign launch at Leopold Sportsman’s Club on March 8.

ACH chair Diana Taylor said the organisation was “incredibly grateful” for the funding that would take the number of palliative care bedrooms to 20.

New research from YouGov shows Ms Coker almost five percentage points ahead of Mr Dunstan on a two-party preferred basis.

While Ms Coker, Corangamite MP since 2019, faces a swing against her, the extent of that has reduced from 5.2 per cent in mid-February to 2.7 per cent, according to YouGov.

The same research projected a big boilover in the neighbouring seat of Wannon, which stretches from Anglesea in the east to the South Australian border.

YouGov has independent and former Triple J presenter Alex Dyson narrowly defeating senior Liberal Dan Tehan, aided by a favourable preference flow from Labor and the Greens.

“All the polls point to a minority government where independent MPs have powerful leverage,” Mr Dyson said.

“With a powerful independent balance of power vote, every bill in parliament is a chance to negotiate a better deal for Wannon, but if we stick with Dan Tehan, every vote in parliament he has to vote the way Peter Dutton tells him.”

The projected swing again Mr Marles in Corio fell marginally to 5.3 per cent.

Nationally, YouGov’s Paul Smith said there had been a boost in support for Labor in recent weeks.

“This is a decisive change in the Australian political landscape, from a likely Coalition government in February to a likely Labor government now,” he said.

The federal election is scheduled for May 3.

What you need to know: Geelong’s guide to the 2025 federal election

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has visited Governor-General Sam Mostyn on Friday morning to get the formal go-ahead for the federal election to be held on Saturday May 3.

“Your choice has never been more clear,” the Prime Minister said.

“This election is a choice between Labor’s plan to keep building, or Peter Dutton’s promise to cut.

“That is the choice, that is your choice.”

Find out below how the race is shaping up in your electorate.

CORANGAMITE

Corangamite is shaping up to be a fascinating battle between Libby Coker and Darcy Dunstan, with a number of minor party candidates also confirmed, including Surf Coast councillor Paul Barker.

Corangamite shapes up as the closest contest in the region.

Taking in the growth corridor in Geelong’s south, the division also includes Torquay and the Bellarine.

Incumbent Labor MP Libby Coker will be hoping to buck a recent trend that has seen her two immediate predecessors serve two terms before being voted out.

Darren Cheeseman held the seat for Labor between 2007 and 2013, before losing it to now Liberal senator Sarah Henderson.

Ms Coker, elected in 2019, faces a strong challenge from Liberal candidate Darcy Dunstan, a former SAS soldier.

Mr Dunstan is a political newbie who offers a clear alternative to the incumbent.

Bellarine native Mitch Pope, a campaigner for the Otway Coastal Environment Action Network, has put his hat in the ring as the Greens’ candidate.

Surf Coast Shire councillor Paul Barker is set to represent the Libertarian Party, while Kate Lockhart will run as an independent for Voices of Corangamite.

Former Labor Party strategist Kos Samaras said the seat was definitely in play for the Liberal Party, despite Ms Coker increasing her margin to 7.6 per cent at the 2022 election.

“Corangamite has significant pockets of suburbs that are experiencing acute mortgage stress, and financial stress,” he said in January.

“For most of 2023, these households were able to sustain interest rate rises … but clearly a lot of households are now running out of steam and we’re seeing, what I would call, political grievance bubbling to the surface.”

CORIO

Richard Marles appears set to comfortably take Corio, where he will come up against Darren Buller and Sarah Hathway.

The Corio electorate takes in the Geelong CBD, the inner south suburbs and the entire north up to Staughton Vale and Balliang.

The seat is a Labor stronghold and has been comfortably held by current Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles since 2007, currently with a 12.8 per cent margin.

Darren Buller’s Liberal candidacy announcement was bungled badly after a fake Facebook page emerged and a flyer promoting an event involving Mr Buller, Sam Newman and former Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan was found to have been created mischievously.

Mr Marles is facing an almost 6 per cent swing against him, according to YouGov research released in February.

Such a result would see his margin cut to 6.9 per cent.

Former Geelong councillor Sarah Hathway will stand for Socialist Alliance, while the Greens’ have put forward Emilie Flynn.

Ms Flynn stood in the Kardinia ward against Stretch Kontelj at last year’s council election.

WANNON

Incumbent Wannon MP Dan Tehan faces a strong challenge from independent Alex Dyson, while Kate Gazzard will contest for the Greens.

The division of Wannon takes in a large area, starting in Anglesea in the east and stretching all the way to the South Australian border.

It takes in much of the Surf Coast, including the townships of Aireys Inlet, Lorne, Winchelsea and Apollo Bay.

The electorate has been dominated by the Liberals since former prime minister Malcolm Fraser won it all the way back in 1955.

It has been held by former Turnbull and Morrison minister Dan Tehan since 2010.

Mr Tehan, the Coalition’s immigration and citizenship spokesman, again faces a spirited challenge from independent Alex Dyson.

Mr Dyson, a former Triple J presenter, contested the two most recent elections, almost doubling his primary vote to 19.3 per cent and falling 3.9 per cent short on a two-party preferred basis.

The Greens’ Lauren Green was forced to pull out of the race due to her dual citizenship, replaced by former Surf Coast councillor Kate Gazzard.

Former teacher Fiona Mackenzie is Labor’s candidate.

Originally published as Anam Cara House to get $2.7m bedroom boost if Liberals form government