New political party to challenge Labor and Coalition in 2022 Victorian election

A new political party has emerged in Victoria in the wake of harsh lockdowns, and it aims to steal seats from Labor and the Liberals at the 2022 state election.

A new political party is set to shake up the 2022 state election with plans to contest every Victorian seat next year.

Small Business Australia executive director Bill Lang, Moreland councillor Oscar Yildiz, former footy champ Paul ­Dimattina and businesswoman Ingrid Maynard are behind the Victorians Party, which launches on Friday, a year out from the ­election.

Recent polling has pointed to increased support for minor parties and independents, and the new political outfit is hoping to steal seats from both Labor and the Liberals.

Mr Lang said more than 15,000 people, who felt they were being ignored by the current political system, had flagged interest in supporting a new party.

He said the centrist party would target the key concerns of Victorians: wage growth, the cost of living, education and health.

And it would preference parties on a seat-by-seat basis.

Bill Lang, Ingrid Maynard and Oscar Yildiz are leading a new political party called Victorians Party. Picture: Alex Coppel

“It’s about getting a seat at the table for those Victorians who are feeling unrepresented,” he said.

“While there are people shouting and tapping away at their smartphones and yelling at each other, the overwhelming majority of Victorians just want to get on with it.

“All the indications are that Victoria, economically and socially, is at an all-time low when compared to the other states. We want to change that.”

Mr Lang said successive lockdowns throughout the past 18 months had instilled an urge to disrupt the status quo in Victorian politics.

“Victorians deserve a health system that works to protect them, yet for the past two years they’ve been asked to work to protect their health system. It’s the wrong way around,” he said.

Labor has 55 seats in the lower house and 17 in the upper house, with the Coalition holding 27 and 11, respectively.

Following its landside victory in 2018, Labor would need to suffer a significant swing of 7 per cent next year to lose power.

Private polling has suggested a large number of ALP supporters considering a move away from the party but believe they are yet to be presented with a credible alternative. The United Australia Party was thought to be one ­option for disaffected Labor supporters but some have criticised its focus as too narrow.

Former AFL player Paul Dimattina has been critical of lockdowns. Picture: Alex Coppel

Observers say a new centrist party could gain significant support, win the balance of power in the upper house and potentially decide the election result.

Mr Yildiz, a teacher, former Moreland mayor and independent candidate for Pascoe Vale, said the party would field Victorians with vast life experiences as election candidates.

Rather than political apparatchiks, they would be ordinary Victorians with no political affiliations who were motivated by the want to represent their communities, he said.

“Look at the way other parties run and it’s all numbers and factions,” Mr Yildiz said.

“I was once told that politics was never about the best person for the job. It should be.”

Mr Dimattina, who has already flagged an intention to run for state parliament, had been sounded out by the Liberal Party in July.

The Western Bulldogs great, who now owns South Melbourne’s Lamaro’s Hotel, has been highly critical of the government’s pandemic response and lack of support for businesses.

Ms Maynard, a business consultant, said she had not been involved in politics previously but had joined the Victorians Party because of failures in the current political system.

She said Victorians deserved better than the current offering from politicians on all sides of politics.

“Like many Victorians I’ve been extremely frustrated by the lack of leadership in this state,” Ms Maynard said.

“We need people in parliament who are non-politicians, with some real life experiences. There are simply too many people who don’t feel represented. This party is by Victorians and for Victorians.