Gippsland South – Victoria 2014

NAT 22.5%

Incumbent MP
Peter Ryan, since 1992.

Geography
Southeastern Victoria. The seat covers South Gippsland Shire and southern parts of Wellington Shire, and covers the towns of Foster, Korumburra, Leongatha, Mirboo North, Port Albert, Port Welshpool, Rosedale, Sale, Venus Bay and Yarram.

Redistribution
No change.

History
Gippsland South has existed continuously as a Legislative Assembly district since 1859. Apart from one term in the 1970s, the seat has been held by the Country/National Party continuously since 1929.

The seat was won in a 1922 by-election by Nationalist candidate Walter West. He lost his seat in 1927 to independent Henry Bodman, who died seven months after winning the seat. In the ensuing by-election, West regained his seat.

In 1929, West lost to the Country Party’s Herbert Hyland in 1929. He served as a minister in a number of governments from 1936 to 1952. In 1955 he was elected Leader of the Country Party. He served in this role until 1964, and held his seat until his death in 1970.

Gippsland South was won in 1970 by the Liberal Party’s James Taylor. He held the seat for one term before losing in 1973. He later served a term as an MLC for Gippsland province from 1976 to 1982.

The seat was won in 1973 by Neil McInnes of the Country Party. He switched to the Liberal Party in 1980, and lost his seat at the next election in 1982.

Tom Wallace won the seat in 1982 and held it until his retirement in 1992.

Peter Ryan won the seat in 1992. He remained a backbencher for the extent of the Kennett government, but he was elected Leader of the National Party after the 1999 election, and immediately moved to end the coalition agreement with the Liberal Party. Ryan led the Nationals at the 2002 and 2006 elections, and in 2008 restored the Liberal-National coalition.

In 2010, the Liberal-National coalition won power in Victoria. Ryan has served as Deputy Premier since 2010.

Candidates

1. Patrick Winterton (Rise Up Australia)
2. Lynn Psaila (Labor)
3. Phil Piper (Independent)
4. Debbie Meester (Country Alliance)
5. Peter Ryan (Nationals)
6. Ian Onley (Greens)

Assessment
Gippsland South is a very safe Nationals seat.

2010 election result

2010 two-party-preferred result

Booth breakdown
Booths in Gippsland South have been divided into four areas: east, north-east, south and west. East and North-East are contained within Wellington Shire, while South and West are in South Gippsland Shire.

The Nationals won a large majority of the two-party-preferred vote in all four areas, ranging from 68.8% in the south to 77.5% in the east.

The Greens came third, with a vote ranging from 7.5% in the east to 13.9% in the south. The Country Alliance came fourth, with a vote ranging from 3.8% in the south to 13.3% in the east.