by Yvette Brand
A battle for the federal seat of Monash is taking shape with the ALP and Family First announcing candidates last week.
Kilcunda resident Tully Fletcher was named the ALP's candidate to join the election race, which now includes the Liberal Party's Mary Aldred, independents Deb Leonard and incumbent Russell Broadbent and Family First candidate Geoff Dethlefs.
With the current Liberal-held seat's margin reducing from 6.8 per cent to 2.9 per cent over the past two elections, it is an election battle that Mr Fletcher believes will shape into a strong contest in a seat he said the Liberals could no longer assume was safe.
The potential split of the Liberal Party vote could make preference allocation particularly interesting after former Liberal and sitting member Mr Broadbent announced two weeks ago his intention to stand as an independent.

Mr Broadbent, who served 25 years as a Liberal MP, was ousted by party