Victorian election 2022: Regional Victoria’s independent streak

Sarah Fenton is one of dozens of independent candidates standing this Saturday. Will they replicate the federal teal wave?

Americans celebrate Independence Day on the fourth of July.

But will non-aligned campaigners be celebrating ‘Independents Night’ on November 26?

A record number of independent candidates are standing in this Saturday’s state election, with most regional seats in the sights of third way contenders.

If successful on Saturday, Bellarine candidate Sarah Fenton would be the first independent to win a seat from Labor in the Victorian Parliament.

Sarah Fenton is running as an independent for the Bellarine electorate. PICTURE: ZOE PHILLIPS

Every other rural independent has won a previously Coalition constituency, but Ms Fenton says she’s in with a chance following the retirement of veteran Labor MP Lisa Neville.

“The teal wave in the federal election showed voters are sick of the usual Labor-Liberal fight and want something different,” Ms Fenton said.

“That’s why I’m standing. To present an alternative to the major parties.

“I think regional Victoria has shown the way on independents and now city seats are following. They want politicians that are connected to their community.”

Former federal MP Cathy McGowan created an electoral shockwave in the 2013 federal election, winning the seat of Indi.

It led to the success of Suzanna Sheed in Shepparton at the 2014 state election, then Ali Cupper in Mildura at the 2018 poll.

Despite speculation that independents would follow the lead of Ms McGowan and stand in the three state seats in Indi’s footprint, only Jacqui Hawkins is contesting Benambra.

Ms Hawkins did so four years ago and gave Liberal MP Bill Tilley his biggest election fright before emerging with a narrow win on preferences.

Alana Johnson was instrumental in Ms McGowan’s win in 2013 in the Voices For Indi movement and the pair spent time mentoring “Teal” candidates in the lead-up to the May state election.

“It requires a lot of anyone who is going to put up their hand as an independent,” Ms Johnson said.

“When people look at the safe seats that we have in northeast Victoria it is a fairly daunting prospect.

“The only way it is going to happen is to replicate what we did in Indi 10 years ago.”

She said Benambra was more winnable for an independent compared to the more rural-based electorates of Ovens Valley and Euroa.

“Wodonga (in Benambra) is a very different town compared to Wangaratta (in Ovens Valley) and Benalla (in Euroa),” she said.

“There is a lot more diversity in the community, big population growth, there is a higher percentage of younger people.

“When they see a young, intelligent candidate who is offering a new style of leadership it actually appeals to them.”