Nine candidates will contest the Monash electorate in next week's federal election.
The ballot paper will be: Kuljeet Kaur Robinson of Warragul (Pauline Hanson's One Nation); Tully Fletcher of Kilcunda (Australian Labor Party); Russell Broadbent of Pakenham (Independent); Mary Aldred of Warragul (Liberal); Deb Leonard of Cape Woolamai (Independent); Geoff Dethlefs of Drouin (Family First); David O'Reilly of Traralgon (Legalise Cannabis Australia); Terence Steele of Kardella South (Greens), and Alex Wehbe of Melbourne (Trumpet of Patriots).
As the sitting member, Mr Broadbent will seek his eighth consecutive term as the Member for Monash, but for the first time it will be as an independent rather than with Liberal Party support.
The long serving Member of Parliament, who served 25 years as a Liberal MP, was ousted by Liberal Party delegates at the November 2023 pre-selection battle which saw the party endorse Ms Aldred as its next candidate. Two days later, Mr Broadbent announced to Liberal colleagues he was quitting the party.
Monash (formerly McMillan) has predominantly been held by Liberal members, with the exception of an ALP dominance between 1980 and 1990 when Barry Cunningham was the elected member and again for a two term period when the ALP's Christian Zahra held the seat between 1998 and 2004. Over the past two elections, the Liberal-held seat's margin has reduced from 6.8 per cent to 2.9 per cent.
Early voting for the May 3 federal election opens today and will close on Friday May 2.
In Warragul, the St Paul's Old Year 9 Centre at 57 Sutton St will be open as an early voting centre. The centre's opening hours can be found on the AEC website, aec.gov.au
Gazette journalists KEITH ANDERSON and BONNIE COLLINGS have interviewed the nine candidates about their priorities for Monash. Their profiles appear in ballot paper order.