Parties slow to pick Victorian candidates

THE major political parties have yet to select candidates for 14 Victorian electorates, just three weeks before the state election campaign.

THE major political parties have yet to select candidates for 14 Victorian electorates, just three weeks before the state election campaign.

The Liberal Party has not yet formally selected candidates for six seats, including two inner-city Melbourne electorates where the Greens are tipped as possible winners -- but only on the back of Liberal preferences.

Labor has also not yet completed preselection for all 88 seats for the Legislative Assembly, with candidates for six electorates yet to be picked. In addition to these electorates -- rural seats mostly held by National MPs -- the resignation of Energy and Arts Minister Peter Batchelor and Police Minister Bob Cameron means another two seats do not have formal Labor candidates.

This means Mr Batchelor's seat of Thomastown -- in Melbourne's west and considered one of the safest Labor seats -- does not have a candidate from any party just yet.

The Nationals still have to finalise candidates in two seats and the Greens have preselected about 48 candidates for the lower house.

These late nominations -- just 50 days from the November 27 state election -- follow criticism of the Liberals for leaving its candidate choices too late in the federal election in certain states.

The big difference between this year's state and federal elections is Victoria has four-year fixed terms and all parties have had this time to organise nomination of its candidates. It also comes after the Coalition and its leader, Ted Baillieu, have been criticised for not producing enough policies to give the electorate. Disquiet among the party about a lack of money for candidates is also rising as the hangover from the long-winded federal election means donors are less likely to contribute.

They will hope that some of these concerns may be offset by the recent hiring of former Liberal Party state director Peter Poggioli -- who worked under former premier Jeff Kennett -- to assist with policy work for the election. The party confirmed it was yet to select candidates for Brunswick, Essendon, Keilor, Preston, Richmond and Thomastown.

The inner-city seats of Brunswick and Richmond are Labor-held but are a strong possibility to go to the Greens. Keilor is a safe Labor seat, with a margin of almost 20 per cent, as is Thomastown, with a 31 per cent margin, and Essendon with 11 per cent.

Labor's missing candidates include nominations for the safe Nationals seats of Benalla, Rodney, Shepparton and Swan Hill. Two Liberal-held metropolitan seats of Warrandyte and Nepean, each on a 9 per cent margin, as yet do not have Labor candidates.

It is expected former Trades Hall official Bronwyn Halfpenny will be nominated for Thomastown and parliamentary staffer Maree Edwards will secure preselection for Mr Cameron's seat of Bendigo West.

The deadline for nominations is November 12.