By Eleanor Wilson and Marcus Uhe
The ALP’s Belinda Wilson has drawn the top spot for Narre Warren North at the election ballot draw on Friday, 11 November, with Liberal candidate Timothy Dragan set to appear ninth on the ballot.
Having the first place on the ballot secures the ‘donkey vote’, should voters simply list their preferences in order of the paper presented.
The draws were held at Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) electoral offices across the state, using independently audited and authorised computerised draw software.
A first time MP is guaranteed for Narre Warren North, with incumbent Labor MP Luke Donnellan exiting the seat after 20 years.
Meanwhile, in neighbouring electorate Berwick, Australian Green’s candidate Hayley Perry took out the top spot on the ballot, followed by the Freedom Party Australia’s Kerry Haupt.
Current Gembrook MP Brad Battin, who is tipped to take the seat according to post-redistribution estimates, is fourth on the ballot paper, while the ALP’s Malik Zaveer took the final spot on the Lower House election Ballot paper for Berwick.
The seat of Berwick was reinstated this year, after it was removed as an electorate in 2002.
Historically however, Berwick has exclusively elected Liberal candidates between 1976 and 2002.
The final order of results, from first to last, were as follows:
BERWICK:
Hayley Perry – Australian Greens
Kerry Haupt – Freedom Party Australia
Katherine Dolheguy – Animal Justice Party
Brad Battin – Liberal
Joel van der Horst – Family First Victoria
Malik Zaveer – Australian Labor Party – Victorian Branch
NARRE WARREN NORTH:
Belinda Wilson – Australian Labor Party – Victorian Branch
Andrew Zmegac – Labour DLP
Monique Ruyter – Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Vic
Stephen Capon – Independent
Sheree Gardner – Animal Justice Party
Christine Elkins – Family First Victoria
Craig Parker – Freedom Party of Australia
Stephen Matulec – Liberal Democrats
Timothy Dragan – Liberal
Laura McLean – Australian Greens
The seat of Berwick accounts for most of Berwick and Baaconsfield, as well as Clyde North and parts of Harkaway, Guys Hill, Beaconsfield Upper and Officer.
The Narre Warren North electorate encompasses Narre Warren, Narre Warren North, Hallam, Endeavour Hills, Lysterfield South, and parts of Berwick.
There are five early voting centres open across the City of Casey; in Cranbourne, Clyde North, Narre Warren, Berwick and Hampton Park, respectively.
For more information on where and how to vote head to vec.vic.gov.au/voting
