SWAN Hill Council Mayor Jade Benham will contest the Mildura seat at the November state election after officially being endorsed as The Nationals’ candidate, but she has been accused of “moving to bat for the other team” over the two roles.
“I’ve always said that I’m not one to sit by and grizzle about the Andrews Government and not do anything about it, so here I am, putting my hand up to do something about it,” she said.
“The only way to shift Dan (Premier Daniel Andrews) is to flip seats back to the Coalition and you can help us do that in Mildura.”
She will be contesting the seat against Liberal candidate Paul Matheson and incumbent independent Ali Cupper.
Candidates can nominate 25 days before election day on November 26.
The Nationals held the seat from 2006 until 2018, when Ms Cupper defeated Peter Crisp.
In a letter to the editor, former councillor Jacquie Kelly – who is next in line to join council should a councillor resign – said Cr Benham was “walking a tightrope” of representing and leading Swan Hill Rural City, and also the state seat of Mildura, despite the town of Robinvale being common to both.
“Cr Benham admits that having an independent, Ali Cupper, as their elected representative is getting Mildura a new hospital faster than Swan Hill, who has a safe seat and National MP, Peter Walsh. Is she not shooting herself in the foot?” she asked.
“As mayor, Jade Benham bats for us in Swan Hill when she states that, ‘we are much further down the line for a new hospital than Mildura’.
“But this won’t get her elected by the good people of Mildura, will it?
“How long can Cr Benham continue in her role as the mayor – leader amongst equals – while moving closer to batting for the other team as she campaigns to become Mildura’s state MP?
“It would be very unfortunate if games get in the way of Swan Hill getting a new hospital, because we seem to have dropped off the list at this stage.”
Ms Benham said Municipal Association of Victoria guidelines were “very clear” that any councillor running as candidate is not required to take leave of absence until formally nominated as a candidate.
“Should a candidate be successful, they should immediately resign from council,” she said.
“I may need to take leave early which is fine, but in the interests of having a well-functioning council, I don’t believe it is within the best interest of council to do so with six months left until the election.
“We have been one councillor down for five months already this year, and in a council of seven it makes things difficult. Even having a quorum can be difficult if there are other apologies.”
Cr Benham said she was still “very focused” on her role as mayor.
“So far the bulk of feedback I have received in this role and after the candidacy announcement has been very positive, so I’m not going anywhere for the time being,” she said.
“Also, Swan Hill is a lot further along getting a new hospital than Mildura, so not sure what that is about.
“Stage one is already funded. We’re calling on funding for stages two, three and four, so we don’t have to take the cranes away. The plans are done for the Swan Hill hospital, we just need more state funding.”
