Victorian election 2022: Martin Cameron, Kate Maxfield battle for Morwell electorate

The Nationals are in good shape to reclaim the seat of Morwell, as the Labor candidate concedes defeat.

9.49pm

The Nationals are maintaining the lead in Morwell, prompting Labor’s Kate Maxfield to concede defeat.

With 27 per cent of the vote now counted, the dial has barely budged on the two-party preferred vote, with the Nationals’ Martin Cameron holding steady at 54.77 per cent to Labor’s 45.23 per cent.

Ms Maxfield wished Mr Cameron all the best as Morwell’s next representative.

“I’m sad it looks like we lost the seat but we got a Labor government so we know everything I fought for – bringing back the SEC and increased investment for health in our community – will be delivered and that’s the best outcome,” she told The Weekly Times.

Nationals candidate for Morwell Martin Cameron.

Morwell was once a Labor stronghold until it turned National in 2006, and remained so until retiring MP Russell Northe left the party and sat as an independent.

A redistribution meant the seat was notionally Labor heading into the election, but Ms Maxfield said the party knew it would be a tight race.

“We worked really, really hard and I’m so proud of the campaign we ran,” she said.

“It didn’t go our way but I’m genuinely stoked we’ve won a Labor government.”

Mr Cameron has been contacted for comment.

9.01pm

The Nationals are on track to reclaim the seat of Morwell.

With about 23 per cent of the vote counted, Martin Cameron is sitting on 54.25 per cent of the two-party preferred count, with Labor’s Kate Maxfield trailing at 45.75 per cent.

If this trend continues as the pre-poll and postal votes come in, it’s hard to see the Nationals losing.

The one-time Labor stronghold turned National in 2006, until retiring MP Russell Northe resigned from the party and sat as an independent.

On first preferences, Mr Cameron has 22.3 per cent of the vote, while Ms Maxfield has dropped back to 30.97 per cent.

The Liberals’ Dale Harriman is on 13 per cent, with those preferences obviously flowing to the Nats, while One Nation’s Allan Hicken is on 7.38 per cent.

7.48pm

We have our first two-party preferred results in Morwell and The Nationals Martin Cameron is in front with 54.79 per cent.

Labor’s Kate Maxfield is sitting on 45.21 per cent, with results from five booths in so far.

On first preferences, Ms Maxfield has 31.96 per cent, Mr Cameron has 21.71 per cent, and the Liberals’ Dale Harriman (whose preferences will flow to the Nationals) on 11.96 per cent.

We are still waiting for the bigger booths to come in, which could change things considerably.

7.28pm

The first results are in for the seat of Morwell, with Labor’s Kate Maxfield snagging 36.41 per cent of the first preference votes from the Yallourn North booth.

The Nationals’ Martin Cameron has 14.81 per cent, while the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party’s David Snelling has claimed 11.16 per cent.

It’s very early days, however, with just 500 votes counted – so settle in for a long night.

Voters were this morning lining up through the gates and up the street from Traralgon’s Grey Street Primary School to cast their ballot in the Victorian Election.

The district of Morwell, with independent MP Russell Northe retiring, may prove to be a bellwether regional seat for today’s outcome.

Voters line up at Grey Street Primary School, Traralgon.

3pm

Liberal hopeful Dale Harriman, Martin Cameron of The Nationals and Labor’s Dr Kate Maxfield will be eagerly awaiting electoral reports in the hope that they will inherit the seat from the retiring Northe.

In the heart of old coal country, where jobs in the coal, timber, paper and dairy industries have recently evaporated, the seat could fall to any side if the spread of opinions expressed by exiting voters are anything to go by.

Ian Hill, a retired sales and distributions manager for a large company said he was a longtime Liberal voter but voted for the current government due to his dissatisfaction with the Coalition.

“I didn’t like Scott Morrison very much and don’t much prefer Matthew Guy,” he said.

“I think Labor’s been doing fine”.

Scott Woodhead, 39, didn’t see much to like from any party, saying that the current Government was doing “not great, but they could be worse.”

“I’m not a big fan of any of them, to be honest,” he said.

One Liberal voter who works in the medical industry and who did not want to be named said “I can’t stand Daniel Andrews.”

“I don’t like what he’s done for the kids and the families, I think he manages money poorly and that the children will take years to recover from all that he’s done.”

Kate Maxfield, the local doctor standing for Labor in Morwell, was moving up and down the voting line, wearing an SEC cap and handing out how to vote cards.

Dr Maxfield’s main priority was to express to locals her fear of the Coalition selling off Morwell’s assets to pay for their metropolitan policy.

“For me, this is the most important election, it’s a referendum on privatisation of our (Latrobe) Valley,” she said.

“The Coalition privatised Latrobe Regional Hospital, they privatised the SEC and two days ago Matthew Guy stood up and said the Liberal-Nationals are going to privatise our water and sewerage.

“I’m a local doctor, I’m not a politician, and I’m running with the Labor Party because every single election they prioritise healthcare.

“I feel like people in the Valley don’t understand how much money Labor has invested in healthcare down here, it’s an insane amount of money.

“I want to be a part of a Labor government that will lift the Valley up.”