Division of Monash

The Division of Monash is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria, which was contested for the first time at the 2019 federal election.

Monash
Australian House of Representatives Division
Location of Monash (dark green) in Victoria
Created2019
NamesakeSir John Monash
Electors112,516 (2019)
Area8,879 km2 (3,428.2 sq mi)
DemographicRural

Geography

Federal electoral division boundaries in Australia are determined at redistributions by a redistribution committee appointed by the Australian Electoral Commission. Redistributions occur for the boundaries of divisions in a particular state, and they occur every seven years, or sooner if a state's representation entitlement changes or when divisions of a state are malapportioned.[1]

History
Sir John Monash, the division's namesake

The division is named in honour of Sir John Monash, an Australian Allied military commander during World War I.

The Division of Monash is located in the western part of the Gippsland region, which extends for the length of Victoria's eastern Bass Strait coastline. It replaced the similarly-located Division of McMillan in 2018. Monash includes the towns of Warragul, Moe, Wonthaggi, Leongatha and Foster. The seat gained Phillip Island at the 2018 redistribution and overall it stretches from Mount Baw Baw and the Baw Baw National Park in the north to Wilsons Promontory, and the Wilsons Promontory National Park in the south. It is the southernmost Electoral Division in continental Australia. Monash was created in the mandatory redistribution of divisions in Victoria by the Australian Electoral Commission in 2018.[2]

The seat is notionally held by the Liberal Party of Australia on a margin of 6.9%, making it a fairly safe seat for the party.[3]

Members
Image Member Party Term Notes
  Russell Broadbent
(1950–)		 Liberal 18 May 2019 –
present		 Previously held the Division of McMillan. Incumbent

Election results
Main article: Electoral results for the Division of Monash
This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2019 Australian federal election in Victoria § Monash.[edit]
2019 Australian federal election: Monash[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Russell Broadbent 46,501 46.28 −3.58
Labor Jessica O'Donnell 29,656 29.51 +1.75
One Nation Jeff Waddell 7,656 7.62 +7.62
Greens William Hornstra 7,047 7.01 −3.09
United Australia Matthew Sherry 4,028 4.01 +4.01
Independent Michael Fozard 2,870 2.86 +2.86
Independent John Verhoeven 2,723 2.71 +2.71
Total formal votes 100,481 95.59 +0.88
Informal votes 4,636 4.41 −0.88
Turnout 105,117 93.45 +2.08
Two-party-preferred result
Liberal Russell Broadbent 57,631 57.36 −0.15
Labor Jessica O'Donnell 42,850 42.64 +0.15
Liberal hold Swing−0.15

2022 election

The next Australian federal election will be held on 21 May 2022. Whilst many thought incumbent Liberal member Russell Broadbent would retire before the 2022 election due to his old age and anti vaccination stance,[5] he has been preselected by the Liberal party and is the favourite to win the seat.

Labor's candidate is Drouin local and former Baw Baw Shire Councillor Jessica O'Donnell. O'Donnell is contesting the seat for a second time and hopes "to hold Mr Broadbent to account", claiming his views on vaccination are "in dire contrast to the majority of people in the electorate”.[6] She hopes to complete a Community Infrastructure Audit if elected, in order to complete more infrastructure projects in the area. O'Donnell also advocates for greater action on climate change, stating “We’ve got to start now; we can’t start in 2049".[7]

For the first time, the electorate of Monash has an independent candidate backed by a "Voices" movement; Phillip Island lawyer Deb Leonard has been endorsed by the Voices for Monash organisation and advocates for science based climate change action and investment in renewable energy, integrity in politics, equality and inclusivity, and support for small businesses.[8]

The Greens candidate for Monash is the Foster based environmental activist, musician and former South Gippsland Shire Council candidate Mat Morgan,[9] Morgan has been campaigning at climate strikes and alongside the likes of Australian Greens party founder Bob Brown and current Greens leader Adam Bandt on issues such as climate action and social inequalities.[10]

The United Australia Party, Pauline Hanson's One Nation, the Australian Federation Party and the Liberal Democrats also have candidates running in the seat of Monash at the 2022 election.

Candidates for Monash 2022 (in order of ballot paper)[11]
Name Party
Mat Morgan Australian Greens
Russell Broadbent Liberal
Deb Leonard Independent
Allan Hicken One Nation
David Matthew Welsh Australian Federation Party
Jessica O'Donnell Australian Labor Party
Meg Edwards Liberal Democratic Party
Christine Ann McShane United Australia Party

References
  1. Muller, Damon (14 November 2017). "The process of federal redistributions: a quick guide". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  2. "Names and boundaries of federal electoral divisions in Victoria decided". Australian Electoral Commission. 20 June 2018.
  3. "Monash - Federal Electorate, Candidates, Results". abc.net.au. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  4. Monash, VIC, Tally Room 2019, Australian Electoral Commission.
  5. "Unvaccinated Liberal MP promotes taking banned COVID-19 treatment ivermectin". ABC News. 14 February 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  6. Slater, Michelle (9 November 2021). "Back for second attempt". Latrobe Valley Express. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  7. "Ready To Advocate For Monash - South Gippsland Sentinel-Times". sgst.com.au. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  8. "Deb Leonard - Independent Voice for Monash". DEB LEONARD INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR MONASH. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  9. "Mat Morgan". Australian Greens Victoria. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  10. "Mat Morgan". Australian Greens Victoria. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  11. corporateName=Australian Electoral Commission; address=10 Mort Street, Canberra ACT 2600; contact=13 23 26. "Who are my candidates". Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 26 April 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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