Federal election 2022: Regional Australia’s seats to watch

There are more than a dozen hot seats across country Australia, as Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese kickstart their regional campaigns.

More than a dozen seats across regional Australia are set to determine whether Scott Morrison or Anthony Albanese hold the keys to The Lodge next month.

The Prime Minister fired the starting pistol on the 2022 election campaign on Sunday, kicking off a six-week campaign towards the May 21 election.

Mr Morrison started his campaign for re-election in the Gilmore electorate, held by Labor on a 2.6 per cent margin, which covers the Nowra and Ulladulla regions.

Mr Albanese visited the Bass electorate, held by the Liberal Party on an 0.4 per cent margin in northwest Tasmania, for the first official day of campaigning.

Regional Victoria boasts four electorates to watch on election night — two which are traditional Coalition v Labor battles and another couple which are set to be three-cornered contests.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has hit marginal Labor seats in the first days of his campaign. Picture: AFP

Corangamite — the Geelong region seat held by Labor MP Libby Coker on a wafer-thin margin of 1 per cent — has swung between the major parties over the past decade.

Covering Melbourne’s northern suburban fringe, McEwen used to be one of the most marginal seats in Australia.

Labor MP Rob Mitchell holds the seat on a reasonably comfortable 5 per cent margin but the Prime Minister has recently campaigned in the region, indicating a shift back to the Coalition.

Also under the spotlight is Nicholls, previously known as Murray, which is being vacated by National Party MP Damian Drum.

Held by the Nats on a whopping 20 per cent margin, the Shepparton region constituency is being contested by Nats newcomer Sam Birrell, high-profile independent Rob Priestly and Liberal challenger Steve Brooks.

In neighbouring Indi, independent MP Helen Haines, who holds the seat on a 1.4 per cent margin, is being challenged by Liberal candidate Ross Lyman and Nats candidate Elizabeth Fisher.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese visited northwest Tasmania as he vies for a change in government. Picture: Monique Harmer

Hinkler, which runs along the Queensland coast from Hervey Bay to Bundaberg, is held by Resources Minister Keith Pitt on a huge 14.5 per cent margin.

But Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey is presenting a high profile challenge to Mr Pitt as an independent.

Covering the NSW south coast, Eden Monaro used to be known as a bellwether seat — one that always fell to the government of the day on election night.

That status has evaporated but Labor MP Kristy McBain holds the seat on a margin of 0.9 per cent, one of the closest contests nationally.

National Farmers’ Federation chief executive Tony Mahar said the NFF had identified five priorities ahead of the election.

“The first is around regionalisation, investing in 20 regional precincts,” he said.

“Environmental sustainability – recognising and rewarding farmers for what they do in managing 50 per cent of the landscape. Putting in place a system that allows farmers to measure and manage and then get rewarded for that natural capital that they are looking after.

“A fairer deal for farmers. Let’s try and look at the supply chain and see where the inequities are in terms of contracts and things like that.

“Investing in technology – telecommunications and digital connectivity. We know the gains these are going to make for the industry.

“And the final one is ag visa – it is a critical issue.”