Indi

North-east Victoria

Safe Liberal 9.0%

MP

Sophie Mirabella (LIB) since 2001, when she was first elected under her maiden name Sophie Panopolous.

Profile

An electorate in north-east Victoria, dominated by the City of Wodonga, but extending down the Hume Highway to include Wangaratta, Glenrowan and Benalla. The electorate also includes Mansfield, Bright, Myrtleford and the Victorian snowfields, and extends as close to Melbourne as Kinglake. Covers 28,567 sq.km. (Map)

Redistribution

Loses Strathbogie Shire in the west to Murray while gaining Murrindindi Shire in the south from McEwen. This brings the electorate in to the edge of Melbourne, including Marysville, Kinglake and Flowerdale. The Liberal margin is estimated to decline from 9.9% to 9.0%.

Background

The electorate of Indi has existed since Federation. Its name is drawn from the aboriginal name for the Murray River.



Indi has a long history as a conservative seat. The last time Labor won this seat was in 1928, when the Labor candidate Paul Jones was elected unopposed after the sitting Country Party MP Robert Cook failed to lodge his nomination papers. Cook managed to lodge his nominations correctly for the early election in 1929, but Jones was re-elected. The seat reverted to the conservatrive parties at the 1931 elections and has since been held by the United Australia Party, the Country Party, and continuously since 1977 by the Liberal Party.



Former members for Indi include Isaac Isaacs (1901-06) and John McEwen (1937-49). Isaacs went on to serve on the High Court from 1906-31, Chief Justice 1930-31, and Australia's first native born Governor-General 1931-36. John McEwen went on represent Murray 1949-1971, to lead the Country Party and to briefly serve as Prime Minister following the disappearance of Harold Holt.

McGowan has been engaging in a strong grass roots campaign and gaining considerable media attention. There are reports of local National Party branch members supporting McGowan, a ramification of the Liberal Party choosing to contest the National held seat of Mallee.



A Reachtel poll conducted for Fairfax Media on 15 August had Mirabella polling 43.5%, McGowan 23.3% and Walsh 16.9%. Both Labor and the Greens are directing preferences to McGowan which raises the prospect of McGowan winning, but Mirabella's support would have to fall further for her to be defeated.

2013 Ballot Paper (11 Candidates) Party Rise Up Australia Party Independent Family First Party Liberal Sex Party Bullet Train For Australia Australian Labor Party The Greens Katter's Australian Party Palmer United Party Independent

Robert Dudley Rise Up Australia Party Website

Cathy McGowan Independent McGowan grew up in North East Victoria and was raised on the family farm in the Indigo Valley near Wodonga. McGowan began her career in rural Victoria working as a teacher in Wangaratta, and then as electoral assistant for Ewen Cameron, the Federal Member for Indi 1977-1993, and later worked with the Victorian Department of Agriculture. In the 1980s she bought a farm in the Indigo Valley and established a rural consulting business working with communities and farming families on issues such as Home and Community Care, child care and care for people with cancer. McGowan has a Masters of Applied Science in Agriculture and Rural Development, a Bachelor of Arts Degree and Diploma of Education. She is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program and a Churchill Fellow. Her work with rural communities was recognized in 2004 and she was made an Officer in the Order of Australia. Website

Rick Leeworthy Family First Party Leeworthy is a local business owner but commenced his business career in the trenches as an apprentice plumber in the 80s and worked in the building industry for many years. He is also the Associate Pastor at North Gate Christian Church and he has lived in the local area for 35 years. Website

Sophie Mirabella Liberal 44 year-old Mirabella came to prominence through her part in the monarchist campaign against the republic, then under her maiden name Panopolous. When she stood for Indi pre-selection, she was dubbed 'Uptown Girl' by critics of preselecting a young, female, Greek, city based barrister for this rural seat. However, she had no difficulty wooing the Liberal pre-selectors and easily defeated her National and Labor Party opponents in 2001. A specialist in business and tax law, she was an elected monarchist delegate to the Constitutional Convention, and holds a Master of Law degree from Melbourne University. She has long been active in student and Liberal Party politics. Opposition spokeswoman for Innovation, Industry and Science. Website

Helma Aschenbrenner Sex Party Website

Robyn Walsh Australian Labor Party Walsh grew up in the Dandenongs and trained at Geelong Teachers college. Her first job was at a one-teacher school in the Wimmera. As wife of an army officer she spent many years in regional towns across Australia, working as a teacher in primary and Adult ESL and Vocational Education. Walsh and her husband have lived at Yarck, near Alexandra, for 14 years where they breed Angus cattle and operate a nearby bed and breakfast. Website

Jenny O'Connor The Greens O'Connor has a long long family history and connection with the North East Victorian region and has worked as a nurse and counsellor for over 25 years in health and community services. She is currently a small business operator in north east Victoria and lives in Beechworth. She was the Greens candidate for Indi at the 2010 federal election, was second on the Greens Victorian Senate ticket in 2007, third in Northern Victoria region at the 2006 Victorian election, and the local seat of Benambra at the 2010 Victorian election. In 2012 O'Connor was elected to Indigo Shire as a Greens councillor. Website

Robert Denis Murphy Palmer United Party Website

Jennifer Podesta Independent 50 year-old Podesta was born and raised in Albury-Wodonga. She has owned and managed local business the Regional Academy of Performing Arts in Wodonga for the last eight years with her husband. Podesta has a BA Hons from Latrobe University in Wodonga and is currently finishing a PhD in Sociology on scholarship at the University of Melbourne. She has three children through her previous marriage to local Olympian and former Albury City Councillor, Rob Ballard. She is a former member of the Greens. Website

2010 Result Party Votes % Swing IND 4,945 5.8 +5.8 GRN 8,000 9.5 +1.9 ALP 23,034 27.2 -4.9 DEM 947 1.1 -0.6 LIB 44,555 52.6 -1.8 FFP 3,190 3.8 -0.1 CEC 0 0.0 -0.4 ALP 33,916 40.1 -0.8 LIB 50,755 59.9 +0.8