By PAUL MILLAR
THE Liberal Party will make a concentrated attack on Lisa Neville’s seat of Bellarine at the next election.
Liberal stalwart Angelo Kakouros expected some strong candidates to apply for pre-selection to contest the most marginally held seat in the district.
Re-distribution of the electoral boundaries is making Ms Neville’s slim hold on Bellarine a prime target for a serious challenge, with Mr Kakouros saying it is well within range.
The Liberals have called for applications for endorsement for Polwarth, held by Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder, South Barwon, held by Liberal Andrew Katos, and Geelong where the ALP’s Ian Trezise holds sway.
Mr Kakouros also played down any thought of dissatisfaction with the sitting members of Polwarth and South Barwon.
“It just shows that we are transparent in the way we do things in the Liberal Party, there are no backroom deals and it’s up to the members to make a decision,” he said.
Although it unclear who will nominate it is clear that the Liberal Party has Bellarine in its sights.
“I suspect there will be a few candidates that want to take on Lisa Neville, as she has taken Bellarine for granted.
“Out of all this seats in the area, this is the one that will be most closely watched,” Mr Kakouros said, adding that Mr Katos appeared to have done enough in his first-term to be re-endorsed by party members
Ms Neville conceded that she was facing a real challenge after losing about 10,000 voters from the Whittington and Newcomb areas and picking up about 3000 in Barwon Heads.
“I’m not surprised that they are targeting Bellarine, re-distribution will certainly make it more marginal, but I’m confident that I can hold the seat,” she said.
Labor’s member for Lara, John Eren said it was telling that the Liberal Party had failed to call for nominations in his electorate.
“It shows that there is a lack of concern for the people in the north, which is indicative of this government,” Mr Eren said.
It could be, however, that the Liberal Party sees the seat as un-winnable, with Mr Eren claiming almost double the votes of his nearest opponent, Robert Eyton, at the 2010 state election.
