Chesters holds firm by tiniest of margins

THERE could only be one winner in the race for the seat of Bendigo in the Federal election just gone, and now that the dust has settled, incumbent Lisa Chesters has emerged victorious with 51.4 per cent of the vote, just edging the Nationals’ Andrew Lethlean’s 48.6 per cent in the two-candidate preferred count.

It was nail-biting stuff towards the end with the lead seemingly changing on the hour until Ms Chesters practically fell over the line with a margin of just over 2900 votes.

Mr Lethlean was the first to budge last Friday when he conceded that “it doesn’t look like we’re going to get over the line in Bendigo.”

“I put myself forward as a candidate for the seat of Bendigo because I wanted to make a difference, given the Labor Party has taken our region for granted for so long,” he said in a statement.

“We ran a strong and positive campaign with plans for the future of our region and we challenged the Labor Government to deliver a fair share for our community.

“I am confident that we won’t be taken for granted again.

“It is extremely humbling to receive such a huge swing towards the Nationals and I know this is a seat we will be able to win in the future.”

Ms Chesters bided her time before also releasing a statement, saying that she was “honoured and humbled to have been elected to represent our community in Bendigo and central Victoria for the fifth time.”

“I love our community, and just as I have done over the past twelve years, I will continue to work hard every day to deliver the things people and businesses in our region need and deserve,” she said.

“Our grassroots local campaign was focused on the things that are most important to our community – not on negative personal politics, funded by millions of dollars.

“Now it’s time to get back to work and deliver on the better healthcare, higher wages, greater housing options and world class education and training that Australians voted for.”