Monash Marginal

Veteran Liberal Member of Parliament Russell Broadbent has survived a significant hit to his primary vote to be returned to represent Monash for another three years.
It will be Mr Broadbent's seventh consecutive term in office but his election came with a strong message from voters who were clearly dissatisfied with the two major parties.
Mr Broadbent's safe 6.9 per cent hold on the seat has been reduced to about 2.6 per cent, making Monash the most marginal it has been in years.
The third party challenge trend that emerged in results across Australia on Saturday was evident in Monash where primary vote swings against Liberal and Labor parties saw votes directed strongly to independent candidate Deb Leonard and The Greens' Mat Morgan.
Ms Leonard recorded 11 per cent of the primary vote while Mr Morgan increased The Greens presence to 9.4 per cent. One Nation retained status quo with 7.6 per cent of the primary vote.
Despite an 8.5 per cent primary vote swing against Mr Broadbent, political commentators called Monash retained within just 1.5 hours of polling booths closing on Saturday.
ALP candidate Jessica O'Donnell also suffered the backlash against major parties with a 3.9 per cent drop in her primary vote.
Yesterday, Mr Broadbent said he was "absolutely thrilled" with the result, which he described as a "great win."
"Our only job was to retain the seat as Liberal National party and we have done that," he said.
Acknowledging a strong Scott Morrison backlash in Victoria, Mr Broadbent said he had enjoyed very strong personal support in his electorate.
He said the trend against both major parties was reflected in the results on Saturday night - "but I survived."
Mr Broadbent said he always expected a strong hit to his primary vote because of the ALP and independent candidates combining against him.
Now in opposition government, for the first time since his term in the Rudd-Gillard governments (2007-2013), Mr Broadbent said he did not focus on margins.
He said Monash had been marginal in the past, with Mr Broadbent losing the seat in 2001 on a 0.1 per cent margin and remaining marginal for two subsequent elections after he was re-elected in 2004.
"I survived the Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd years, they were very hard elections. But the margin is irrelevant, what's important is representing your electorate.
"We've had a very strong message in the community. I can assure the electorate they will have my ear and I will be listening. They have a representative that's on their side and they've always had that," he said.
In her second bid to take out Monash, Ms O'Donnell's primary vote decreased but her two party preferred vote increased 4.2 per cent, helping to narrow the electorate's overall margin.
She said it wasn't necessary a bad result for the party. "We got swings where we didn't expect to and swings against us in areas like Corinella and Coronet Bay because of the state government's recent sand mine decision."
Ms O'Donnell said the clear message was people were asking for change.
"We are really proud of the result. Labor is still there and that shows that people have had enough," she said.
Ms O'Donnell said with Monash now marginal in a Labor government, she would be using every opportunity over the next three years to advocate at a community level.
"There are so many opportunities for us (the ALP) to work hard. A lot of my colleagues are in good positions in government and there is an opportunity for advocacy to address the growth in Baw Baw Shire," she said.
Ms Leonard set out to give Monash voters a choice and make the electorate marginal. She is pleased the major parties could no longer take Monash for granted because people power will hold them to account.
The Phillip Island lawyer said she was overwhelmed by the support she received in her first tilt at public office after starting from scratch in February.
"With the help of a couple of hundred volunteers including many family and friends, and some awesome fundraising at the local level, together we have achieved an incredible result in such a short space of time.
"Over 8500 people across the electorate voted differently this election – they voted for someone with no party, no political brand, just a willingness to listen and represent our community values," she said.
Ms Leonard said it was unlikely to be the end of her time in politics. "If our community can achieve this much in less than 4 months, imagine what we can achieve in another three years."
Mr Morgan was overwhelmed with the party's result in Monash and has guaranteed voters he will be back. "I am just warming up."
Mr Morgan attracted 9.4 per cent of the primary vote, 2.3 per cent more than 2019.
Nationally, he said The Greens had quadrupled its presence in parliament in what was the party's best election result ever.
"Nationally the focus around climate has been put back on the agenda. Both major parties putting climate aside was never going to work. We need more progressive representation and it's nice to see it represented at the polls," he said.