Victorian election 2022: Morwell at the centre of power

Dan Andrews’ commitment to bringing back the SEC shows how keen he is to win Morwell — a key seat this election cycle.

Coal constituencies are creating carbonised complications for major parties worldwide.

The pit communities of Pennsylvania used to be a Democratic lock but now decide who resides in the White House.

Similarly, northeast England used to be solidly Labour territory but up-ended tradition three years ago by voting Boris Johnson into Downing Street.

Morwell’s electoral history is a similar story.

In the 1970s and 80s when the State Electricity Commission powered Victoria, Morwell voted solidly for Labor.

But the SEC was relegated to the history books in the 90s and ex-football star Russell Northe flipped Morwell from Labor red to Coalition blue a decade later.

“We were a safe seat and we were forgotten by politicians,” Wendy Farmer said.

Wendy Farmer Picture: Zoe Phillips

The Voices of the Valley president started the community advocacy group following the 2014 Hazelwood brown coal mine fire.

The fire burned for 45 days, choking Morwell.

While the smoke cleared in mid 2014, frustration smouldered right up to election day later that same year, with voters almost booting Mr Northe out of office.

“We wanted to make Morwell marginal and we achieved that. Politicians stopped ignoring us," Ms Farmer said.

Morwell is now a centre for power in more ways than one.

Mr Northe switched from the National Party to the crossbench in 2017 and won the seat again the following year in an extraordinary four-horse race.

Labor topped the primary vote pops in the 2018 election and is tipped by the bookmakers to win this time around.

Premier Daniel Andrews certainly hopes so. At Sunday’s campaign launch, he was greeted by supporters wearing T-shirt emblazoned with the sunray logo.

By Monday, he was wearing a Harrington jacket with the logo displayed prominently.

Morwell Labor candidate Kate Maxfield is also tapping into the SEC nostalgia.

“This election is a referendum on privatisation,” she said.

“While the Liberals and Nationals privatised our hospital and the SEC, Labor will keep our hospital in public hands and bring back the SEC.”

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas talk to Dr Marilla Druitt after making an announcement about significant funding for women's health while visiting Barwon Health in Geelong. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Andrew Henshaw

A medical practitioner, Dr Maxfield is also making health care a key part of her campaign.

“My experience co-ordinating medical care with the RAAF during the Black Summer bushfires and on the frontline during the Covid-19 pandemic in the Latrobe Regional Hospital Emergency Department have shown me how resilient our community is,” she said.

Like Mr Northe, National Party candidate Martin Cameron made his name as a local football star before going into small business.

He said Labor’s SEC pledge is an election season facade.

“Locals are tired of Labor’s spin – it doesn’t match its actions,” Mr Cameron said.

“We’ve had too many failed announcements here in the Valley. The 500 promised SEA Electric jobs last election that failed to materialise is just one example.”

Morwell Liberal candidate Dale Harriman ran in 2018 and jumped ahead of the Nats in the primary count.

If there’s any doubt electricity is a key issue in this race, he too raises energy policy as a source of voter cynicism.

“Labor’s plan to close the power stations early and a lack of replacement power generation,” Mr Harriman said.

“Daniel Andrews’ lack of support for other coal uses such as hydrogen or using sequestration to achieve zero emissions is also raised with me.”

Mr Harriman is not the only Latrobe City councillor running for Morwell. Council colleagues Tracie Lund and Sharon Gibson are running as independent candidates in the 12-strong race.

Ms Farmer nominates employment and climate change as other key issues in this campaign, all linked back to Latrobe Valley’s reputation as a powerhouse.

“Whatever happens next week, we want Morwell to stay marginal,” Ms Farmer said. “It’s the only way the politicians keep paying attention to the Valley.”