'There's a lot at risk': Maree Edwards latest Bendigo Labor woman to quit
With less than three months until the Victorian election, the resignation of another long-time female MP has left Labor voters in the regional city of Bendigo with not a single ALP candidate to choose from.
Victorian Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and regional MP Maree Edwards has announced she will not seek re-election in the upcoming state election. The long-serving Bendigo West MP, who has held the seat for 16 years, will not contest the November election. A political expert notes that Edwards' departure comes too close to the election to allow a new Labor candidate to campaign effectively.
With less than three months remaining until the vote, the loss of another seasoned Labor MP has left voters in Bendigo without an ALP candidate. Edwards, the first woman to hold the seat and the fourth woman to serve as speaker of the Legislative Assembly, cited her personal life as the reason for her decision. Following the death of her husband, she had been contemplating retirement for some time, but the recent leadership change in the party delayed her plans.
Edwards' resignation will leave the seats of Bendigo West and Bendigo East up for grabs, according to Professor Zareh Ghazarian of Monash University. He believes these seats are crucial in determining the success of Labor's electoral fortunes, especially in rural and regional Victoria.
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