Liberal candidate already campaigning for 2025, others not so sure

LIBERAL candidate Ross Lyman was back out in the community this week, starting his campaign to re–contest the seat of Indi in 2025. Mr Lyman, who rang Independent incumbent Helen Haines on Saturday evening to congratulate her on her win, said he was disappointed to a see a four per cent primary vote swing against his party in Indi – with the two party preferred difference roughly 60/40 favouring the incumbent – although he does expect the 17,000 postal votes yet to be counted to help reduce that divide. Acknowledging the "bloodbath" at the national level, the former Army commando now Wahgunyah viticulture manager said his team would analyse what factors – local and national – had impacted on his ballot result. "I began my campaign this election in January and the feedback we've got is that I need to be out there sooner, so I'm starting today for 2025," he said, noting that working with the private sector and business community to get the economy firing would be a big part of his expected broad platform again. "Obviously there has been a shift in society...it's something the Liberal Party has to look at nationally. "If people want to get to net zero (emissions) quicker than 2050...are happy to see taxes rise to get more renewables now." Mr Lyman said it would be a challenging environment for any government this term at the macro level, and whether Labor governed in its own right or in a minority government, it was likely to look after its own marginal seats, ahead of electorates such as Indi. "We'll see what focus Indi gets...Independents can't deliver, that is what governments do," he said. Fellow Coalition candidate, Nationals' Liz Fisher, was "devastated" to see traditional Nationals voters support the incumbent and also One Nation candidate, eroding her party's primary Indi vote to below four per cent. "I think there were some big picture issues at play...some Nationals may not like Barnaby Joyce or the pro mining policies," she said. "The Independent ran a very well funded campaign. "I really see the Nationals as a party for rural and regional development, but clearly that is not resonating with people in towns." Ms Fisher said her candidacy since January had been a "very positive experience meeting so many good people", she was looking forward to refocusing on 'mum' and farm duties, and was still keen to play her part of the party in the future, although that may not be as a candidate. A 3.6 per cent swing against Labor to reduce its primary vote to 8.5 per cent in Indi was personally disappointing for candidate Nadia David, but she was excited by the national result which will see her party back in government after almost a decade. "After all the months of work by myself and our small team of volunteers it is disappointing, but the Liberals and Nationals also suffered a backlash here," the Beechworth academic said yesterday. "I can see that a lot of our support went to Helen (Haines), who ran a much larger campaign and is a quality local member and I wish her all the best....I'm happy for her and for Indi. "Potentially she could play a bigger part (if Labor in minor government)...she is a progressive and we've seen a progressive vote in Indi on matters of climate change, as well as an integrity commission which Labor has committed to get in place by Christmas." Ms David said she was open to the idea of running again at the next federal election. "I've had a lot of positive feedback but for now I'll have a break and focus on getting my PhD," she said. First time Greens candidate Benjamin Gilbert said he was delighted with the outcome in Indi, and nationally, believing the results pointed to Australians' desire to see more action on climate change. "This has been a climate change election," he said, "and Indi has been part of that progressive vote. "People understood what Helen stood for. "You can't call Indi a conservative seat anymore. "Helen and Cathy (McGowan) have shown that safe doesn't exist if you are not on topic." The Yackandandah sculptor was delighted to see his party's primary vote double in his hometown, and said an electorate–wide swing of around one per cent away from the Greens had been support for the incumbent's shared vision on climate policies. "I've really enjoyed the whole experience...it's been very positive and for me it's about doing what is right for the kids," he said. "I'd be happy to run again, unless someone younger than myself wanted to do it." Liberal Democrats candidate Julian Fidge said he was reasonably content with his support at the ballot box. The Wangaratta GP had over two per cent of the primary vote counted, which was an improvement on his vote as an Australian Country Party candidate at the 2016 federal election. He believed the party's support was borne from its policies to stop lockdowns and vaccine mandates, and protect personal freedoms. "These messages resonated with the electorate, I think you also saw that with the support for One Nation and the United Australia Party," Dr Fidge said. "I think the increased support for the incumbent comes from her stance on climate change and the integrity commission." Dr Fidge, who was wearing his cowboy hat giving out how to vote cards on polling day, said this election wouldn't be his last rodeo. "Liberal Democrats are a great party and I'd be keen to run again for them, if they'll have me," he said. For United Australia Party candidate Stephen Williams, this was his first and last foray into politics. The Tawonga business owner said he was "very disappointed" to see his party's primary vote, under his candidacy, drop from around four per cent to around 2.5 per cent of the vote. "I think the support we did get was on the back of our opposition to all mandates and the madness of the last two years," he said. "I didn't expect to get elected, but I thought we'd have a stronger showing than that. "I'm retiring from politics...time to go fishing." Candidates Beth Stevens (Pauline Hanson's One Nation), Angel Aleksov (Animal Justice Party) and Lachlan O'Connell (Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) could not be contacted for comment yesterday.