Victorian election hot seats: These candidates want to represent the west – without living in the electorate

Detailed summary

Despite a bruising four years, former opposition leader John Pesutto says he’s committed to returning to parliament and serving under Jess Wilson.

Last week, we heard from voters in Sydenham, a once safe Labor seat that formed part of the ‘red wall’ of outer-suburban Melbourne electorates.

After years leaning left, voters told investigative reporter Liam Mannix they feel increasingly ignored by the government, with infrastructure, roads and hospital wait times proving to be major issues.

In Ringwood, another seat currently held by Labor, the attack from the Liberals and a number of minor party and independent candidates is well and truly under way.

Reporter Bridget McArthur last week took us inside a lively candidate’s forum where the Family First candidate for the seat was sidelined by a colleague who insisted he speak on her behalf. We also heard from locals that some of the main concerns going into this election are potholes, affordable housing and crime.

Opening of the article, excerpted from The Age. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.