Rumours are running rife of the possibility of a 'Super Saturday' election day to coincide with the NSW local government elections on December 4th.
The NSW seat Bega that covers Sth Durras to the Victorian border has been won by the Liberals at every election since it was first contested in 1988.
The announced resignations of Andrew Constance, John Barilaro and Gladys Berejiklian will force a by-election for Bega, Monaro and Willoughby.
So who will contest in Bega?
No doubt Labor. And who might be the Liberal candidate?
ACM suggests there has been speculation around two names as potential nominees for the seat of Bega, Mitchell Nadin, who is a councillor with Bega Valley Shire Council and Liz Innes, currently mayor of Eurobodalla Council.
In June 2021 Liz Innes confirmed she would not be stand for re-election as a Councillor in the upcoming Local Government elections saying she needed to spend some time with her family and take time for herself and would not be contesting the upcoming elections.
It is understood, however, that Liz Innes will have difficulties getting through pre-selection and gaining support of local branch members.
Back in days of old when Andrew Constance announced he was planning to stand for the Federal seat of Eden Monaro the writing was on the wall that Liz Innes would be a possible Liberal candidate for the seat of Bega.
Since then there has been a lot of water under the bridge and the initial support of the idea of any endorsement appears to have waned.
So who will contest the seat of Bega? Your guess is as good as mine. What has been more than evident is the absolute absence of anyone publicly challenging the current Member for Bega and his representation of the region.
Andrew Constance, by way of being a member of the coalition, has managed to see funding from the big bucket diverted to his region. Most of it comes via grants and major infrastructure. The Batemans Bay bridge was due for replacement, as was the Nelligen Bridge. The Bay Bypass was long overdue for completion and the Moruya Bypass was already on the cards with Transport NSW, irrespective of the current incumbent.
The Bay Pavilion has been embroiled in pork-barrelling associated with both the State and Federal government and further tainted by adding a $19 million burden to Eurobodalla ratepayers who may well be left with an $8 million White Elephant 350 seat theatre.
While there has been in excess of $8 million sourced from grants for the Mogo bike track improvements and the Coastal Walk funded from Bushfire Relief money neither of these can be claimed as forthcoming from the Member for Bega as both came from recommendations of independent panels.
While the above "windfalls" might be seen by some as a bonus in having a local member as part of the ruling party able to better secure funding for local projects any dollar secured by way of pork-barelling and favoritism means another electorate with a member from the "wrong team" misses out.
There has long been the argument that you hope your local member is in the party that is in power to give them access to The Big Bucket of funding. Or that you are a knife edge electorate that brings bold promises by all "should they be elected".
Interesting days ahead.
