Melton and Moorabool MPs Don Nardella, Natalie Hutchins, Marlene Kairouz and Geoff Howard have all committed to contesting next November’s state election.
The four Labor MPs last week confirmed they would seek re-election, saying they had unfinished business.
As reported by the Weekly, several local seats will be altered and others renamed as part of an overhaul of Victoria’s electoral boundaries. The Electoral Boundaries Commission has completed redistributions in both houses of State Parliament.
Mr Nardella will run in the Melton electorate, which he has represented since 1999. “I want to keep on representing the terrific communities of Bacchus Marsh, Melton and Eynesbury to make sure they all receive a fair share of funding and facilities from the new government, whoever that is.”
Ms Hutchins, the member for Keilor, is seeking preselection for the newly named electorate of Sydenham.
She said the electorate – which takes in Sydenham, Taylors Lakes, Calder Park, Taylors Hill, Hillside and Plumpton – would allow her to represent about 40,000 residents who were part of her present electorate.
‘‘I think it was unfair that members of the west have been representing 55,000 people, where other electorates had only 20,000,” Ms Hutchins said.
Kororoit MP Ms Kairouz said there was much work to be done in the electorate, which includes Caroline Springs, Burnside and Truganina.
Mr Howard, the member for Ballarat East, will stand in the new Buninyong electorate, which includes Ballan, Balliang and Greendale. The seat includes much of the present seat of Ballarat East, which Mr Howard has represented since 1999.
Melton and Moorabool residents living in the Sunbury and Macedon electorates are certain to have new MPs.
Sunbury resident Josh Bull was last week unopposed in his nomination for Labor for the new Sunbury electorate, which includes Diggers Rest.
Mr Bull, who works for federal McEwen MP Rob Mitchell, said he hoped to be officially endorsed this week. In Macedon, which includes Toolern Vale and Blackwood, at least four people are believed to have nominated to stand for the Labor Party.
They include former Melton council employee Karen Martin, Gisborne’s Dennis Franklin, former federal McMillan MP Christian Zahra, and Northcote’s Mary-Anne Thomas.
Labor is expected to finalise its candidates by December 15.
