Victorian Labor minister urges voters in key battleground electorate to vote independent

Martin Foley suggested voters in a key battleground electorate would be best represented by an independent — even though his own party is also fielding a candidate.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Health, Martin Foley. Picture: Brendan Beckett

A Victorian Labor minister has urged voters in a key battleground electorate to vote for an independent — even though his own party is also fielding a candidate.

Speaking in state parliament this week, Health Minister Martin Foley suggested the people of Nicholls — the regional seat covering Shepparton — would be best represented in Canberra by an independent.

Nationals MP Damian Drum’s retirement has sparked a battle for the seat, with independent Rob Priestly making a major play against Nationals candidate Sam Birrell.

Rob Priestly independent candidate for Nicholls in Shepparton. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Victorian Senator Bridget McKenzie and Nationals' candidate in Nicholls, Sam Birrell.

Labor is also running Bill Lodwick as a candidate, although he is considered a rank outsider.

Mr Foley was responding to a question in parliament from independent state Shepparton MP Suzanna Sheed when he used the opportunity to attack the Nationals and argue against voting for his party.

“It is important that our regional communities continue to have independent voices such as those from the member for Shepparton that are not beholden to, for instance, the likes of Barnaby Joyce, who thinks that supporting Victoria’s healthcare system and infrastructure is somehow another foreign aid,” Mr Foley said.

Bill Lodwick, Labor candidate for Nicholls.

“I look forward to the people of Nicholls continuing the fine tradition that the honourable member for Shepparton has established — and seeing that played out in the federal vote — to make sure that her community can have these issues dealt with in the same independent manner in the federal parliament as they are in the state parliament.”

Nationals federal director Jonathan Hawkes claimed it showed “a vote for the independent is a vote for Labor”.

“We knew the independent and Labor were working closely together but we didn’t think they’d be so blatant about it,” he said.

“For one of Daniel Andrews’s ministers to openly endorse the independent — over the Labor candidate — is unprecedented.