Eight candidates have nominated for the Dunkley by-election to be held on Saturday, March 2.
A random draw for positions on the ballot paper was undertaken at a public event on Friday (Feb. 9):
• CONROY, Nathan – Liberal
• CURRIE, Bronwyn – Animal Justice Party
• ABRAHAM, Chrysten – Libertarian
• YUNIS, Reem – Victorian Socialists
• BERGWERF, Darren – Independent
• BRESKIN, Alex – The Greens
• McKENZIE, Heath – Australian Democrats
• BELYEA, Jodie – Australian Labor Party
The Federal seat was held by the Labor Party’s Peta Murphy, who died on December 4.
Early voting starts on Saturday, February 19. Postal vote applications close on Wednesday, February 28.
The Dunkley seat includes areas such as Carrum Downs, Sandhurst, Skye, Seaford, Frankston, Frankston South, Langwarrin, Langwarrin South and Mount Eliza.
At the close of rolls there were 113,517 electors entitled to vote, up 1950 on the 2022 Federal election and 308 on the Voice Referendum.
ABC commentator Antony Green said: “Dunkley’s Labor margin of 6.3 per cent may put it in the ‘safe’ seat category, but that’s a categorisation more relevant to a general election than a by-election.
“Few who know this part of Melbourne would view Dunkley as safe for Labor, especially at a by-election.
“On its current boundaries, Dunkley’s margin sits just above Labor’s 2022 state-wide result in Victoria, the seat occupying a pivot point on the state’s electoral ledger,” Mr Green said.