Coalition campaign for Mildura faces headwinds

The Liberal Party is standing behind its candidate for Mildura Paul Matheson following reports he was charged with a disciplinary breach while serving as a police officer.

The Coalition campaign for the seat of Mildura is facing headwinds after media reported Liberal candidate Paul Matheson was charged with breaches under the Victoria Police Act while serving as a police officer.

Mr Matheson, a long-serving police officer and president of the Sunraysia Football Netball League, was charged with a disciplinary breach and demoted in 2019, according to a report published by The Age.

The charge followed an investigation by Taskforce Salus, a special unit focused on officers accused of sexual misconduct and family violence.

Liberal candidate for the seat of Mildura Paul Matheson. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

Both the Liberal and National parties are running candidates for the seat of Mildura against incumbent independent MP Ali Cupper, who won on the wafer-thin margin of 237 votes against the National Party in 2018.

Mr Matheson’s campaign has heavily emphasised his 26-year-long career as a police officer and leadership roles in the community.

National Party candidate for Mildura Jade Benham said the charge against Mr Matheson “should have been taken into consideration before preselection”.

Ms Benham said Friday’s article in The Age was the first she had heard of the disciplinary breach.

National Party candidate for Mildura Jade Benham. Picture: Supplied

“I would have thought it was something that should be taken into consideration before preselection,” she said.

“(The Liberal Party) obviously deemed it not an issue.”

Ms Benham said she was “not concerned at this stage” that the revelations would hurt her campaign. As part of an agreement between the Liberal and National parties, candidates competing against each other at the state election share preferences.

“If I run a decent campaign, I should be able to win on my own merit,” she said.

As of Friday, betting company TAB had listed the Coalition’s chances to win the seat at $2.50, compared to $1.50 for independent MP Ali Cupper.

The Weekly Times contacted Mr Matheson for comment but did not receive a response.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Victorian Liberal Party leader Matthew Guy said Mr Matheson was a “very strong advocate for the community” who had the support of the Liberal Party.

“Anything that’s occurred some years ago with Paul is a matter for the Victoria Police. “They’ve conducted their investigation and concluded it, fully internal,” he said.