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DULL and disinterested have been terms frequently bandied about this federal election campaign.
While the voting public has certainly failed to engage with the campaign, the level of disinterest among prospective candidates has also been evident, particularly in the Mallee.
Horsham is the second-largest centre in the Mallee electorate behind Mildura, yet visits to the city from candidates have been infrequent during the campaign, almost to the point of neglect.
There has been no opportunity for voters in the city to question candidates through a town hall style forum during the campaign, and the Mail-Times’ offer of a live Facebook debate was rejected by the majority of candidates.
What is clear is that rains across the Wimmera to start winter have done little to ease the extreme water shortage the region’s farmers are suffering through.
This election, water security and drought proofing is a key issue for our farmers, with many struggling after consecutive years of failed crop.
The Wimmera contributes more than $1 billion to the national economy each year; the vast majority of that coming through the production of broadacre crops.
Communications remains a vital issue in our region. Mobile phone reception is sketchy in many of our outlying communities and the bushfire-prone Grampians National Park.
The expansion of the National Broadband Network into the Wimmera seems to have slowed to a snail's pace, while governance changes at Australia Post mean that people can wait weeks to receive a letter from their next door neighbour.
Our roads continue to be a talking point, with the upgrade of the Western Highway to dual carriageway a focus.
While roadworks are continuing, the lack of any firm financial commitment to the next phase of works from those in federal politics is a concern.
The Mallee electorate remains the safest seat in Australian federal politics with The Nationals member Andrew Broad enjoying a margin of more than 20 per cent.
When Wimmera voters go to the polls on Saturday, consider what a safe seat means for the region.
If it means more of the same for the next three years, maybe it’s time to consider a change and make Mallee marginal.