Lethlean stands for state Bendigo East seat

The battle for the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Bendigo East – held by Premier Jacinta Allan since the dawn of the century – has officially begun.

Nationals Victoria leader Danny O’Brien, joined by Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad, stopped by Lake Weeroona this morning to endorse local hospitality veteran Andrew Lethlean as their candidate for the seat at the 2026 state election.

Allan was re-elected as the local member in November 2022 for the sixth consecutive time with a margin of just over 12 per cent, unexpectedly replacing Daniel Andrews as the state’s leader approximately 10 months later.

Lethlean sensationally missed out on winning the seat of Bendigo at last year’s federal election by a whisker, achieving a 10 per cent swing but still going down to another longtime Labor incumbent, Lisa Chesters.

O’Brien praised the newly announced candidate and publican as having been a champion for Bendigo for many years.

“Indeed for the time that the current member has been a member of parliament, Andrew’s been employing people, creating jobs and providing services in this city,” he said.

“At the federal election last year he achieved a swing that no one thought possible against the Labor Party.

“I think he will do a fantastic job in holding the Premier to account and making sure that the people of Bendigo East have an alternative choice, probably for the first time genuinely in 27 years.

“I think the Premier will certainly be very concerned.”

Locally born and bred, Lethlean said he loved Bendigo but he thinks the region has been neglected “for quite a while now”.

“We’ve got this city-centric government that has forgotten about the rural areas,” he said.

“I want to be a real voice to fight for the people of Bendigo and all of regional Victoria, because we’ve been missing out.

“Twenty-five per cent of (Victorians) live in the regions – we get 12 per cent of investment.

“So, it’s important that we’ve got a strong voice.”

Allan’s office has been approached for comment. The state election takes place on Saturday 28 November.