Apathy in Gippsland

June 5, 2008, 3:53pm,  102 views

I’ve just returned from four days in the Latrobe Valley where I visited my parents.

I was surprised how little the by-election campaign was being discussed in public and the media. This plays into the National Party’s hands.

I spoke to an ALP stalwart who effectively conceded that Labor couldn’t win the seat. He was even wondering if they shouldn’t preference the Liberals.

Labor should top the poll, so that was an extraordinary admission. Their preferences should be irrelevant.

Darren Chester has a prominent campaign office in Traralgon. I saw posters for him and Rohan Fitzgerald, but nothing for Labor.

It’s looking like a Nats win.