Election countdown begins on the Coast

EDITORIAL

While the Prime Minister has yet to call the next Federal Election, the latest it can be held is May, and here on the Central Coast, the race is already well underway.

With the Liberal Party having now formally announced its candidates, all major party contenders are in place for the region’s key seats.

The electorate of Robertson has long been regarded as a bellwether seat – that is an electorate which consistently elects a local member from the political party that ends up forming the government..

Both Dobell and Shortland, which includes several suburbs to the north of the Central Coast, are held by Labor with slim margins and in the Libs’ sights.

That means the Coast is set to be a battleground, with a flurry of campaign activity, advertising, and no doubt a few big-ticket promises.

Remarkably, no Independent or Greens candidates have yet thrown their hats into the ring for Dobell or Robertson, though that could change in the coming weeks.

Given the trend in recent elections towards greater support for minor parties and independents, it will be interesting to see if any high-profile challengers emerge to shake up the contest.

CCN will as always provide comprehensive coverage of the campaign, cutting through the noise to focus on the issues that matter to Central Coast residents.

We encourage our readers to stay engaged, scrutinise the candidates and make their voices heard.

Keep your forum letters coming.

This election will count for the Coast.

David Abrahams, Managing Editor