Daughter of John Halfpenny to take Batchelor's Thomastown seat

BRONWYN Halfpenny, the daughter of former union heavyweight John Halfpenny, will become the new member for Thomastown, replacing the retiring Brumby government minister Peter Batchelor.

By InvestSMART · 13 Oct 2010

By InvestSMART ·
13 Oct 2010

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BRONWYN Halfpenny, the daughter of former union heavyweight John Halfpenny, will become the new member for Thomastown, replacing the retiring Brumby government minister Peter Batchelor.

The Trades Hall official was the only nomination for Thomastown, which Labor holds by a margin of 31.1 per cent, making it the second-safest seat in Victoria. But two candidates from Labor's left are fighting to replace former police minister Bob Cameron in the seat of Bendigo West, after he also announced his retirement last week.

A meeting of Labor's administrative committee tomorrow night will choose between Maree Edwards, an electorate officer to Mr Cameron, and Bill Murray, who directed the recent campaign of federal Bendigo MP Steve Gibbons. Mr Batchelor and Mr Cameron both retired for family reasons.

Labor members George Seitz, Carlo Carli, Judy Maddigan and Karen Overington are also retiring as state MPs.

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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

Who is Bronwyn Halfpenny and will she become the new member for Thomastown?

Bronwyn Halfpenny, the daughter of former union leader John Halfpenny and a Trades Hall official, was the only nomination for the Thomastown seat and will become the new member, replacing retiring Brumby government minister Peter Batchelor.

Why is the Thomastown seat described as ‘safe’ and what is the Labor margin there?

Thomastown is described as one of Victoria’s safest seats because Labor holds it by a 31.1% margin, making it the second-safest seat in the state according to the article.

Who is Peter Batchelor and why is he retiring from the Thomastown seat?

Peter Batchelor is a retiring Brumby government minister whose departure opened the Thomastown seat. The article notes that Mr Batchelor retired for family reasons.

What is happening in Bendigo West and who are the candidates competing for the Labor nomination?

After former police minister Bob Cameron announced his retirement, two candidates from Labor’s left—Maree Edwards (an electorate officer to Mr Cameron) and Bill Murray (who directed the recent campaign of federal Bendigo MP Steve Gibbons)—are contesting to replace him in Bendigo West.

Why did Bob Cameron retire and when was his retirement announced?

Bob Cameron, the former police minister, announced his retirement last week and—like Mr Batchelor—stepped down for family reasons, according to the article.

When will Labor choose the candidate for Bendigo West?

Labor’s administrative committee is scheduled to meet tomorrow night to choose between Maree Edwards and Bill Murray for the Bendigo West nomination.

Which other Labor state MPs are retiring alongside Batchelor and Cameron?

The article lists other retiring Labor state MPs as George Seitz, Carlo Carli, Judy Maddigan and Karen Overington.

What immediate representation changes will result from these retirements and nominations?

Immediately, Bronwyn Halfpenny will become the new member for Thomastown as the sole nominee, and Labor’s administrative committee will soon select a replacement for Bob Cameron in Bendigo West. Several other Labor MPs have also announced retirements, creating additional turnover in the state parliament.