ANALYSIS – Michael DiFabrizio
IT’S rare for a politician to do anything that might suggest they got something wrong.
So maybe Nationals candidate Jade Benham deserves some credit for printing a fact-check of her own comments and dropping it in mailboxes across the Mildura electorate.
Ms Benham told this paper two weeks ago: “Ali (Cupper) has voted with the Labor Government 70 per cent of the time over the past four years. She has only voted against the government when it doesn’t matter, or when she was part of the (now-defunct) Reason Coalition (with Fiona Patten).”
Ms Cupper, the independent incumbent Ms Benham is trying to unseat, responded with her own figures – also published in this paper – that she said had been verified by the Legislative Assembly Procedure Office.
The figures had Ms Cupper voting with the State Government 53 per cent of the time, with the Opposition 38 per cent of the time, with both sides 6 per cent of the time and with the crossbench 3 per cent of the time.
Depending on which way you slice it, this would have Ms Benham off by 11 to 17 per cent.
But Benham nonetheless seemed pleased by the new numbers, as a Nationals pamphlet promoting her delivered to local homes this week republished them, alongside the message: “#TheTruth … Ali Cupper votes with Daniel Andrews most of the time. *source: her”
So, given the new numbers were now being accepted as #TheTruth, did the Benham flyer contain any “I’m sorry for getting it wrong” over the initial comments?
Any acknowledgement she had, whether intentionally or otherwise, peddled a #UnTruth?
Err, that would be no.
It’s like something out of the Donald Trump playbook: make a wild claim that requires correction, then spin the new information to your advantage like nothing ever happened.
Maybe we can leave that sort of stuff to the bloke in Florida.
The sincerest form of flattery
WHILE we’re on the topic of that pamphlet, a curious item was listed under “Jade Benham’s local plan”.
One of the promises being made was “$36 million to build a Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation facility”.
All well and good, except Labor’s May budget already committed $36 million for a Mildura drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility. No need to promise anything, it’s already on the books.
Refreshing to hear The Nationals and Labor singing from the same hymn sheet.
Just don’t get caught voting with them.
Maps with Matheson
PAMPHLETS are clearly tricky business all round – just ask the Liberals.
Their Mildura candidate Paul Matheson may have been avoiding the media lately, but his advertising push hasn’t slowed.
That included a mailbox flyer last week promoting his candidacy to residents, featuring a map of the Mildura electorate.
Highlights of the map included the “Swan Hills Rural City” and towns “Waleup” (as opposed to Walpeup), “Werrimul” (not Werrimull), “Mittyyack” (where Mittyack would be), “Nullwil” (a willing attempt at Nullawill) and personal favourite “Nendaly” (perhaps Nandaly if said with a Mallee accent).
Also can’t wait for my next visit to “Lake Tyrell” (or Lake Tyrrell, even).
Anthony Albanese might say this bloke wouldn’t know his Yeppoon from his Yeppen.
A lot of the often-forgotten towns and localities got a mention, though, which was great to see.
That said, not quite sure how Robinvale, Merbein and Mildura – collectively home to more than half the seat’s population – got left off the map.
Cupper finds a friend
LABOR, for what it’s worth, seem happy enough with Ms Cupper holding the seat of Mildura for another four years.
The how-to-vote card of Labor ghost candidate Stella Zigouras suggested voters put Ms Cupper second on their ballots.
Greens candidate Katie Clements also had the independent second on her card.
Beyond that, Ms Cupper wasn’t finding too many friends in the all-important preferences game.
Perhaps that’s why she was left to suggest voters place long-time sparring partner Glenn Milne, also running as an independent, second.
Neither Ms Cupper nor former Nationals MP Peter Crisp made it to even 40 per cent of voters’ first preferences four years ago, so positioning on ballots will again be critical with an even larger field this time.
Perhaps the biggest loser from the emergence of how-to-vote cards this week was Mr Matheson.
Mr Milne, whose card may hold some sway given he had a 16 per cent primary vote during his 2010 state politics tilt, opted for Ms Benham ahead of Mr Matheson.
That means if Mr Milne happens to be knocked out before the two of them, the Nats get a boost.
Family First, Labour DLP and independent candidate Sonia Brymer also put Ms Benham before Mr Matheson.
As is usual when both are running, the two Coalition parties suggest placing the other second.
Draw it all out and Mr Matheson likely needs the primary vote of both himself and Mr Milne to outpoll Ms Benham, or for his primary to be larger than those combined, for there to be a path into the final two-candidate-preferred tally.
But maybe that’s just another dodgy election map.
