Who will it be?

INDI Independent incumbent Helen Haines and Liberal candidate Ross Lyman have spent the past five weeks of the federal election campaign seeking to offer voters a clear choice amid a field of 10 candidates. They have both laboured their points of policy differences, and each remains hopeful of their success at the ballot box tomorrow, although neither was predicting a result when contacted by the Wangaratta Chronicle on Wednesday. What they do agree on though, is expecting to be the last two standing and for your preferences to decide the outcome of the seat. Dr Haines won Indi in 2019 – retaining its Independent status delivered by Cathy McGowan dethroning Liberal incumbent Sophie Mirabella in 2013 – although a 4.13 per cent swing to the Liberals last election has cut the margin to just 1.4 per cent. "I'm hopeful of being re–elected but I don't take the people of Indi for granted...it's (result) too hard to tell," she said on Wednesday, after another hectic day manning pre–poll stations which have been busier than ever across the electorate. "We've run a strong and positive campaign...supported by 1800 volunteers who've been busy door knocking throughout Indi. "As the Independent MP I've been fighting for the people of Indi...that's who I represent and answer to, not party bosses. "In 2019 the electorate let me know stamping out corruption was a big issue and I've been championing that pursuing an integrity commission in parliament. "If there is a hung parliament, a minority government, I've been clear that my interests are front and centre putting the Indi electorate first...I will never negotiate away my ability to vote on issues in the best interests of Indi. "Whoever forms government, I and Indi have made it clear that an integrity commission, improved rural health and telecommunications, and climate action are important issues." A similarly hopeful Mr Lyman was buoyed by pre–poll support over the past week, but said a result was "too close to call". "We've run a strong campaign and over the past two to three weeks I've got the sense the mood is shifting and people are looking for a change in Indi," he said. "I've had an overwhelming response from the public, particularly talking to many hundreds of voters at pre–poll this week, and our volunteers' vibe is that momentum is shifting. "Since January I've been campaigning on a positive platform to bring investment into Indi...people feel the region has been left behind under an Independent." Mr Lyman questioned Dr Haines' transparency, saying she had "failed to say who she would support in a hung parliament...although her voting record in 2021 showed she voted with Labor 80 per cent of the time". He said he had a strong economic plan for Indi and if elected would be part of a team that can deliver on major issues. "If I am elected and we are in Opposition, I will still be part of a team that can work with federal and state MPs on fundamental issues for the electorate more than an Independent," Mr Lyman said. For the record, the TAB odds this week had Dr Haines at $1.07, Mr Lyman at $8, Labor's Nadia David at $34 and Green's Benjamin Gilbert at $51 to win Indi. Labor, Nationals also hopeful THEY remain hopeful, but both Labor candidate Nadia David and Nationals candidate Liz Fisher concede it would take something quite remarkable to prevail in Indi tomorrow. Coming off a primary base of only 12 per cent in 2019, Ms David said the 20 per cent swing she needs to win the seat is "possible, not probable". The Beechworth–based criminal justice lecturer is proud of running Labor's "strongest campaign in a very long time" in Indi. "The last decade has come down to preferences to decide the seat and I'm a stronger chance with the Liberals preferencing me ahead of Dr Haines," she said. "I'm excited by the pre–poll feedback. "The Morrison Government is on the nose and I think many people are seeing Independents are not the answer as they can't get things done by themselves, like an ICAC or climate action." That said, Ms David believed if her 'miracle' win in Indi didn't eventuate, Dr Haines – who she has preferenced at number four behind the Greens' Benjamin Gilbert and Animal Justice Party candidate Angel Aleksov – would be elected on the back of a good campaign. Nationally, she said while many people remained undecided, she believed Labor's "safe pair of hands and strongest team in living memory" will prevail, particularly given its core policies around aged care, health services, climate action, education, power and cost of living. The Nationals' Ms Fisher conceded she was very much an "underdog", but still hoped to win. "I know our party is coming off a primary vote of just under 10 per cent at the last election, but we've certainly been a lot higher than that previously and we've had a strong campaign," she said. "I offer a very real choice for voters and have demonstrated I'd be part of a team." Ms Fisher expected, based on past elections, Indi will again be decided on preferences, and said it will be particularly interesting to see what level of support minor conservative parties – such as One Nation, Liberal Democrats and United Australia Party – get based on people's view of how the pandemic was handled. Failing a 'miracle' increase in her primary vote, the majority of her preferences are expected to flow to Mr Lyman "who offers a plan and will be part of a great team". "I don't think Independents, with diverse views without a common vision, are good for functional government." Greens' candidate Benjamin Gilbert emerged yesterday, after a week in COVID lockdown, hitting pre–poll centres with his "secret weapon" – three year old son Moli playing the ukulele. Mr Gilbert said action on climate change had been the biggest talking point of this campaign and "only the Greens have a sound plan in line with the science". He said he was hoping the party's primary vote (four per cent in 2019) may increase as he believed his party's policies "resonate with the interests of youth". Mr Gilbert said he'd be '"surprised" if Dr Haines – whom his party preferenced first – didn't hold the seat, while noting the "excellent campign by the very progressive Labor candidate". "Nationally I'm hoping to see the Liberal Party out so we can get progress on climate," he said. Liberal Democrats candidate Julian Fidge said he was hoping to double the primary vote (2.07 per cent) he received when he ran for the Australian Country Party in the 2016 federal election. The Wangaratta GP said preferences will again decide the fate of the seat of Indi, and he expected both Labor and Liberal parties' first preference voting to be down. He believed micro party preferences will favour the Coalition – and Labor and Green preferences to favour Dr Haines – and preferences "may be enough to tip (Liberals) Mr Lyman across the line". Nationally, he believed Labor didn't have the "personalities or policies to win" and thought the Coalition would be returned, with the United Australia Party a "dark horse" to pick up some seats. Animal Justice Party candidate Angel Aleksov said he believed Dr Haines will retain the seat with an increased margin. "It will be good to see Independent representation retained in Indi and we'd love to see her advocate more for animal rights," he said. Nationally, Mr Aleksov said his party is looking forward to a change in government, with he and his party having preferenced Labor and the Greens ahead of Coalition candidates, seeking more action on banning live exports and addressing the "climate emergency". United Australia Party candidate Stephen Williams was unable to make any comment. His predecessor in the 2019 federal election won almost four per cent of the primary vote. Neither Beth Stevens (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) or Lachlan O'Connell (Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) could be contacted for comment.

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