In the hot seat

The Geelong region is on the verge of losing its last Liberal MP at tomorrow’s election, according to bookies and opinion polls.
But embattled veteran MP Stewart McArthur said yesterday he was confident of holding his seat after failing to detect a mood for change “on the ground” in Corangamite.
Bookmaker Portlandbet said betting suggested Corangamite was one of three Victorian seats set to fall to a new Rudd Government.
Lasseters Sportsbook has Mr McArthur even money with Labor rival Darren Cheeseman, while Centrebet ranked him a reed-thin favourite at $1.84 to $1.86.
Most opinion polls predict a swing to Labor larger than Mr McArthur’s 5.4 per cent margin.
Labor turned up the heat on Mr McArthur this week with a trump card pledge to duplicate the Princes Highway between Waurn Ponds and Winchelsea.
Mr McArthur, who has held Corangamite for 23 years, brushed off the bookies’ odds and opinion polls.
“I’m feeling confident on the basis I have been the member for a long time and have looked after the people of Corangamite,” he said.
“On the ground there has been very little adverse comment about me or the Liberal party.
“People are happy they’ve got a job, unemployment is low, interest rates are relatively low and they’re happy in their businesses.”
Mr McArthur said various issues would work against a Labor win in Corangamite.
Constituents were growing concerned about the prospect of “wall-to-wall” Labor governments at the state and national levels, he said.
“People are also picking up that the GST could be changed with the approval of all levels of government.”
Mr McArthur expected Mr Cheeseman’s home outside Corangamite to also sway voters.
“My opponent lives in Ballarat, he is not a local boy,” Mr McArthur said.
The Independent was unable to gain comment from Mr Cheeseman before going to press yesterday.
In the seat of Corio, all bookies have Labor candidate Richard Marles as clear favourite ahead of independent Gavan O’Connor and Liberal Angelo Kakouros respectively.