Ex-Labor and Liberal mayors in race for marginal Corangamite
The PM has met Geelong’s senior citizens as the race for Corangamite heats up. Learn the history and the potential future of this ultra-marginal seat.
Corangamite is said to derive from the local indigenous term for “bitter water.”
Lake Corangamite, Australia’s largest permanent saline lake, no longer forms part of the constituency but the name is still apt when you consider how bitterly the major parties want to retain or gain the hot seat.
Liberal MP Stewart McArthur held the seat from a 1984 by-election until the 2007 Ruddslide, which resulted in Labor challenger Darren Cheeseman securing the seat for the ALP for the first time since the 1930s.
Mr Cheeseman clung onto the seat in 2010 after backing Julia Gillard for the prime ministership over Kevin Rudd only months earlier.
He switched his allegiance to Mr Rudd in 2012 and after his favoured leader was returned to The Lodge, he lost Corangamite to Liberal challenger Sarah Henderson.
Like Mr Cheeseman, Ms Henderson hung onto the seat for two terms until her subsequent defeat by former Surf Coast mayor Libby Coker.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited a retirement village in the seat on Monday, after playing basketball with schoolchildren in Torquay earlier in the campaign.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese is also a frequent visitor and likely to swing by the seat in the coming weeks.
CURRENT STATUS
Ultra-marginal for Labor on 1.1 per cent.
NOTABLE PREDECESSORS
Corangamite is a federation seat, meaning it was one of the original 75 constituencies when Australia’s first federal election was held in 1901. Labor prime minister James Scullin held the seat before heading to The Lodge and Fraser government minister Tony Street represented the region for a generation.
MAJOR TOWNS
Bannockburn, Inverleigh, Portarlington, Clifton Springs, Leopold, Queenscliff, Barwon Heads and Torquay as well as part of suburban Geelong.
THE CANDIDATES
(In ballot order)
Stephen Juhasz, Federation Party
Alex Marshall, The Greens
Libby Coker, Labor Party
Meg Watkins, Animal Justice
Stephanie Asher, Liberal Party
Paul Barker, Liberal Democrats
Luke Sorensen, One Nation
Daniel Abou-Zeid, United Australia
Jean-Marie D’Argent, Hinch Justice Party
WHO IS GOING AGAIN
Labor MP Libby Coker defeated Liberal MP Sarah Henderson at the 2019 election and is running for a second term. Ms Henderson is now a Liberal senator for Victoria.
DOMINANT ISSUE
The southern fringes of Geelong has grown exponentially since the 2019 election with many Melburnians heading down the Princes Highway to make a new life near the Surf Coast. The rural hinterland between Geelong and Torquay is disappearing at breakneck speed, with the cost of buying a first home or parcel of farmland a challenge for voters in the region.
Road and rail links have also been part of the Corangamite debate in recent election cycles with both sides pumping millions in the duplication of the Princes Highway between Colac and Waurn Ponds.
WHAT THE MAIN PLAYERS SAY
LIBBY COKER, Labor:
“After nine years of Liberal government, connectivity remains a huge issue in many parts of my electorate of Corangamite, especially peri-urban and farming areas. Labor will ensure that 80 per cent of the 3.7 million homes and businesses in regional and remote areas across the nation will have access to NBN speeds of 100 Mbps or more by late 2025. Currently this is only 33 per cent.”
STEPHANIE ASHER, Liberal:
“Agriculture is a very important part of Corangamite, and I am excited by the opportunity to grow, expanded and further develop this sector in our local community.”
“To keep agriculture and regional communities strong, we have cut fuel prices, backed more workers getting onto farms and supported supply chains and airfreight of goods.”
“The Morrison Liberal Government has delivered $120 billion to develop Australia’s regions.”
THE ODDS
Labor $1.25
Liberal: $3.65
Greens $34
Source: Sportsbet
For the full list of regional seats to watch at the upcoming election, click here.
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