‘We’re full up from them’: Biserka part of bigger headache for major parties in Melton

Early voting centre at old Bunnings Warehouse – 12 days until election day

Biserka Kecenovic pushed her walker out of an early voting centre in Melton with a smile after doing something she had never done before.

Biserka Kecenovic, 80, cast her vote early in Melton.Credit: Joe Armao

After decades of voting Labor, the 80-year-old Melton resident backed somebody else in the state election. She placed her vote with local snake catcher Jarrod Bingham, who is running as an independent.

“I’m most happy with him,” she said. “I think, not only me, but many people [are] sick of the Liberal and Labor [parties]. We’re full up from them and that’s why I like to try something new.”

Kecenovic was one of hundreds of Melton voters to brave downpours and waits of up to an hour on Monday to cast their ballot on the first day of early voting, while behind the scenes, the campaign turned pointy.

Several hundred people, many toting umbrellas and donned in raincoats, cast their vote by midday at one of Melton’s two early voting centres housed in a disused Bunnings Warehouse.

It is once-loyal Labor voters like Kecenovic that has the government worried about this traditionally blue-collar electorate.

After 30 years in Labor hands, the former safe seat has turned on the party in recent years; in 2018 and 2014 the primary vote for Labor slipped backward even as the party gained popularity statewide.

Key challengers have campaigned hard on the issue of infrastructure provision on Melbourne’s fringe, where the number of housing developments has exploded.

“I voted for Steve because he’s promising a lot whereas the others are all talk, man,” said 18-year-old Chris Thelma.

“Like my grandmother always said, Labor always promises the best and always fulfils ... and I don’t like the look of the other geezers anyway.”

Robin, 31, said he voted Liberal because of “defence spending, investment in health and family values”.

Couple Marty and Nadia, both in their 40s, were hoping for a change from Labor but did not say where they placed their votes.

“Even if Labor wins, but we become marginal, maybe they’ll start paying attention,” said Marty.

Chris Thelma, 18, with Melton MP Steve McGhie.Credit: Joe Armao

The final run-up to voting day has become heated in the background.

Leading independent Dr Ian Birchall, who polled nearly 11 per cent of the primary vote in 2018 and came within 700 votes of taking the seat from Labor after preferences, was the focus of an attack ad issued by the Victorian Trades Hall Council on social media on Sunday.

The post features a video of Birchall and his campaign manager, Dr Marcus Watson, arriving at a Liberal fundraiser event in August at Melton’s Tabcorp Park.

“Is he an independent? Or is the Liberal party trying to play games in Melton?” the post reads.

In the foreground of the video, people dressed in lobster costumes dance to the song Rock Lobster – a gimmick performed by Trades Hall union affiliates outside Liberal events during the campaign to draw attention to the infamous 2017 story about Liberal leader Matthew Guy dining with an alleged underworld figure.

Birchall batted off the ad when asked about it by The Age at the polling centre.

“We were offered tickets to the event, we went along to see what the Liberals were on about,” he said.

“It was part of my research to see what the opposition were up to.

“I’m totally independent – I have no time for the Liberal Party or the Labor Party, and my preferences show it.”

The Liberals are directing their voters on how-to-vote cards to preference Bingham in the number two spot on their ballots.

Bingham’s how-to-vote cards ask his voters to send their second preferences in return to Liberal candidate Graham Watt.

Birchall’s how-to-vote card directs his voters to place Bingham second, and the Liberals 11th in a race of 14 candidates.

Melton City Council has issued an infringement for this Labor sign parked illegally near Woodgrove shopping centre.Credit: Joe Armao

Meanwhile, Melton City Council has doled out warnings and infringements for political advertising around the electorate.

One infringement has been issued over a large trailer with the phrase “Mathew Guy The Liberals’ Cuts Guy”, which was parked illegally on a nature strip outside Woodgrove, the main shopping centre in Melton.

A council spokeswoman confirmed a parking infringement had been issued for the trailer parked illegally on the nature strip, and parties had until Tuesday night to remove other political material from council land.

“Under council policy, the placement of electoral signage on roads and council-owned or managed land is not permitted under any circumstances,” she said.

This story is part of our in-depth local coverage of the key seats of Melton, Hawthorn and Richmond at the November state election.

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