THE final countdown to the Niddrie byelection is on with residents deciding on a new MP this Saturday.
Despite nine candidates contesting the seat, campaigning has been relatively quiet with only the ALP’s Ben Carroll, Greens candidate Josie Lester and the Sex Party’s Amy Myers making their presence felt.
Ms Lester last week took to the trams in Moonee Valley campaigning for smarter investment in public transport. Dressed as a tram conductor, she was promoting the reintroduction of conductors to make public transport “safer, easier to use and to help cut down on fare evasion”.
Mr Carroll campaigned on Keilor Road with former premier Steve Bracks.
He also spruiked the need for a jobs plan for the state in the wake of a slump in employment figures.
Sex Party candidate Mrs Myers called for improvement to public transport in Niddrie and an end to random police searches without cause.
A byelection for Niddrie was made necessary after the resignation of long-time Labor MP Rob Hulls.
At the state election in November 2010, the seat was won by Labor with a margin of 6.9 per cent.
The Liberal Party announced last month that it would not contest the byelection.
Candidates in ballot paper order:
Gerrit Schorel-Hlavka, independent
Ben Carroll, ALP
Andrea Surace, independent
David Linaker, independent
Josie Lester, Australian Greens
Michael Deverala, DLP
Amy Myers, Sex Party
Jim Little, independent
Frank Papafotiou, Christian Party
