Victorian election 2022: Bill Tilley, Jacqui Hawkins fight for Benambra
A strong independent challenge from Jacqui Hawkins has fallen short on election day. Read the details.
The Liberals appear to have held on to the North East electorate of Benambra, despite a high-profile challenge from independent Jacqui Hawkins.
The Liberals appear to have held on to the North East electorate of Benambra, despite a high-profile challenge from independent Jacqui Hawkins.
With more than 20 per cent of votes counted, incumbent Bill Tilley had snared 42 per cent of the primary vote to Ms Hawkins’ 31 per cent. On the two-party preferred basis, Mr Tilley leads 52.88 per cent to 47.12 per cent.
It is Ms Hawkins’ second attempt to unseat Mr Tilley.
2pm
The final days of voting in the tight race in Benambra has been overshadowed by a formal complaint to the Victorian Electoral Commission made by independent candidate Jacqui Hawkins about the conduct of Liberal incumbent Bill Tilley.
Ms Hawkins said the alleged confrontation took place at the Wodonga pre-polling centre seven days ago and had remained under wraps until Friday.
She said Mr Tilley displayed “threatening, intimidating behaviour” towards her.
“Unfortunately it came out from somebody who saw the incident, which is why the media understands what happened,” Ms Hawkins said.
Mr Tilley confirmed an “exchange” took place between himself and Ms Hawkins and thought the respective campaign teams had dealt with the issue later in the day.
“We understood that all parties were satisfied,” he said.
“Then two days before an election there is an email suddenly sent to news outlets from a third party.
“I’m disappointed but not surprised that after all those discussions they have chosen to politicise what was an absolute non event.”
Mr Tilley spent part of Saturday morning in the key major population centre of the electorate, Wodonga, before heading to some of the rural areas such where he has always had longstanding support.
He said it had been a tough election campaign and at stages “toxic”.
“The feedback has been positive,” he said.
“But in saying that it has been a long couple of weeks for all candidates.
“Of all the elections I’ve had the privilege to be able to run as a Liberal candidate it has been messy.
“I would even go as far as saying toxic in parts.”
Close to 50 per cent of eligible voters, including Mr Tilley, had cast their ballots before Saturday.
Benambra independent Jacqui Hawkins has voted in Wodonga. â¦@theweeklytimesâ© pic.twitter.com/aE2HYU420O
— David Johnston (@david_johnston5) November 25, 2022
But Ms Hawkins voted early on Saturday morning in Wodonga and felt “really hopeful” of ending the Liberal stranglehold on the seat.
“We’ve given people a real alternative between the same old thing for the past 16 years or doing something different for the next four years,” she said.
“It’s been really positive and receptive at polling stations, more so than 2018, which makes me think there is a real appetite to move away from the major parties.
“People understand what independents do for their community, we’ve got Helen Haines here, Cathy McGowan previously, and people get what that model of politics looks like.”
Ms McGowan was handing out how to vote cards for Ms Hawkins in Wodonga on Saturday morning and Albury Liberal MP Justin Clancy made the trip over the border to do the same for Mr Tilley.
Mr Clancy’s predecessor as Albury MP, Greg Aplin, was also helping distribute how to vote cards for the Benambra MP, who was first elected in 2006.
CHILTERN VOTERS DECIDE
Government debt, flood recovery, Covid lockdowns and the poor state of Victoria’s rural roads were front of mind for voters at Chiltern on Saturday morning.
Chiltern is in the seat of Benambra with the majority of voters tossing up sticking with Liberal incumbent Bill Tilley or replacing him with independent Jacqui Hawkins, who provided Mr Tilley with a major scare four years ago.
Steady of stream voters lining up in Chiltern in Benambra electorate. Flood recovery & govt debt top of mind for voters. â¦@theweeklytimesâ© pic.twitter.com/wvJIindWCF
— David Johnston (@david_johnston5) November 25, 2022
Chiltern is just starting to dry out from heavy spring rain and flood recovery was a high priority for local resident David Pearce.
But he was equally concerned about escalating government debt.
“It has to be brought under control or we’re all going to be in trouble,” he said.
“Cost of living is also a very serious issue for the average person and something needs to be done about that also.”
Government debt was also the key issue for Christopher Breen.
“Both parties are spending too much and it’s got to stop.”
Gloria Banks declared her hand in voting for Liberal.
“The way this government has treated us is absolutely appalling,” she said.
“It doesn’t listen to the people and regional areas always get forgotten.
“We desperately need a new hospital in Albury-Wodonga, but everything is Melbourne centric.”
She said there also needed to be more reliable rail services and urgent attention on roads.
One Chiltern resident who wished to remain anonymous said she was still upset with Labor’s Covid response.
“It had a huge impact on local businesses,” she said.
“It was like we had a hierarchy in charge making all the rules.
“It was always telling us what we couldn’t do, but not what we can do.”
BENAMBRA BATTLE
Benambra is shaping up as an electorate to watch as the votes get counted on Saturday night, with the Coalition fearful it could lose control of the once-blue ribbon seat.
In the Liberals corner is incumbent MP Bill Tilley, the Shadow Minister Regional Cities who has held the seat since 2006 but suffered a fright on election night 2018 when independent challenger Jacqui Hawkins came close to an upset.
Ms Hawkins, a former staffer to federal independent trailblazer Cathy McGowan, is also back for another shot at the title. Punters strongly rate her chances, with TAB paying $1.87 for an independent win – the same as for a Coalition win.
Also on the Benambra ballot this year are Animal Justice Party’s Mike Fuery, the Liberal Democrats’ Dean Rossiter, Luke Brady from the Australian Greens, Janelle Stratton from Family First Victoria, Mark Tait from Labor and Adrian O’Brien from the Freedom Party of Victoria.
TAB is paying $12 for a Labor victory and $29 for a Greens upset.
Benambra, which covers about 10,000 square kilometres, takes in the City of Wodonga, as well as such towns as Beechworth, Corryong and Rutherglen.
The Liberals have held the seat for 46 years, after winning it from the Nationals in 1976.
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