FOR the first time in 86 years the Federal National Party faces the prospect of losing the seat of Gippsland.
The resignation of Nationals MHR for Gippsland Peter McGauran on Friday has left the regional seat open for the taking.A by-election has been proposed for either late May or early June.
The seat of Gippsland has been held by the Country/National Party since 1922, with only four members in that time.Darren Chester, the chief of staff for Nationals leader Peter Ryan, will nominate for party pre-selection as will Labor's candidate in the 2007 Federal Election, Jane Rowe.
Ms Rowe threatened Mr McGauran's 25 year stranglehold on the seat last November.Mr McGauran officially hands in his resignation tomorrow and believes his actions will not hurt the Nationals' candidate at the by-election.
"We are not expecting there to be a personal backlash because of my departure in a by-election but instead it will be a closely fought political contest because of the newness of the Rudd Government," Mr McGauran said.
"I didn't pretend there will be some who will seize on this... but the precedent of (former Victorian Premier) Steve Bracks and (former Deputy Premier) John Thwaites is largely accepted by the electorate."Most people will accept, however reluctantly, that a long standing member who has served at the highest levels can leave between elections."
He said the Nationals had many strengths in Gippsland which would serve it well in the by-election."The Victorian state National Party has increased representation over the past couple of elections and so long as the federal party believes in itself and draws its inspiration and policies from regional and rural Australia, they can prosper," Mr McGauran said.
"The Nationals have a lot going for them including continued representation since Federation but the inclusion of the Latrobe Valley at the 2004 election and removal of solid conservative votes from South Gippsland has significantly changed the political dynamics in Gippsland.
"But at every redistribution that occurs continually the National Party loses a seat, there's physically fewer seats available to the Nationals outside of the cities."The Nationals may draw on the popularity of state MPs Peter Ryan, Peter Hall and Russell Northe, at the Gippsland by-election, according to Mr McGauran.He said the trio was a "formidable" team which demonstrated how relevant and effective a Nationals MP could be.
Mr McGauran said he would put his full support behind the Nationals' by-election candidate and offer advice and assistance when called upon."I'm very conscious that I am now yesterday's man but I want to support unreservedly a National's candidate," he said.
"Darren Chester will be a strong candidate but because every National Party rank and file member gets a vote it will be the height of presumptuousness, if not arrogance, for me to ordain a successor."
He admitted if Mr Chester was successful he would have a difficult road ahead of him as the Rudd Government would throw all of its support behind a candidate."It will be a tight contest and Labor will be reasonably confident of winning," Mr McGauran said.