Veteran Labor speaker Maree Edwards quits, leaving Bendigo West seat open ahead of election
Victorian Speaker Maree Edwards announced she will not run in the November state election, creating an unexpected vacancy in the safe Labor seat of Bendigo West.
Maree Edwards, the long-standing member for Bendigo West and current Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, confirmed she will not contest the November state election, ending a 16-year tenure. She was the first woman to hold the Bendigo West seat and the fourth female speaker in the Assembly’s history. Edwards’ retirement comes shortly after Jacinta Allan stepped down as premier and announced her own exit from politics.
The Victorian Nationals have put forward volunteer firefighter David Hutchings as their candidate, marking the party’s first contest in the electorate in 16 years, while publican Andrew Lethlean is already campaigning in neighboring Bendigo East. Experts say the timing leaves Labor with limited time to introduce a new candidate and could jeopardise its hold on a seat that has been safe for three decades. Premier Ben Carroll praised Edwards for her integrity and cross-party respect, and former premier Allan highlighted Edwards’ community work during the Harcourt fire earlier this year.
Why it matters
Labor must quickly find a candidate for a historically safe regional seat, and the outcome could signal the party's strength outside Melbourne.
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