By ‘On the Ground in Melbourne’

The federal election 2010 is now well and truly underway and early observations suggest the mainstream media are taking rather a scattergun approach to the campaign.

Since the campaign started, most media attention has been on Tony Abbott’s ability to kick own goals over industrial relations, some early coverage of asylum seekers and the “East Timor solution,” climate change policy and the fact that the Greens and the ALP have come to an agreement on preferences.* But there’s been little talk about the marginal seats so far, which is strange. What superficial coverage there has been has touched on electorates like Lindsay, Sydney, Eden-Monaro and the knife-edge marginal of Melbourne.

In particular the talk around Melbourne (the electorate not the city per se) has been interesting. Held by the ALP by a margin of 4.7 percent, the seat remains the Greens best chance of winning a Lower House seat at this election. The main candidates, Adam Bandt (GRN) and Cath Bowtell (ALP), have both been featured in The Age. The newspaper has attempted to cause a stir around each, but with narry an interest from readers. So far The Herald Sun has been waging its own private war against the ALP, though this will probably change to include the Greens closer to polling day.

But what’s happening on the ground?

Well there’s already been some leaflets distributed; fundraisers are happening; and the candidates are out and about pressing the flesh and kissing babies. Posters are going up and billboards are coming and much doorknocking in key parts of the electorate. One thing is for sure there will be some heavy foot traffic through important housing commission buildings.

The Greens’ Adam Bandt could arguably have the upper hand having been campaigning for some time before the election was called. The ALP’s Cath Bowtell was only recently preselected after sitting member Lindsay Tanner chose to retire in the wake of the recent ALP leadership change and so is behind in having her election material out there. She was only able to launch her campaign website in the last couple of days. However the Labor machine is expected to quickly make up time as they are desperate to hold on to Melbourne.

In all of this, little has been said of the Liberals’ efforts. Funnily enough the Liberals are being sidelined in the debate around Melbourne. However, they’ll be beavering away and could be a dark horse in the election. Exactly what they’re doing is difficult to say as they have lacked any real exposure. There have been rumours they’re concentrating in more ‘aqua’ areas to retain small ‘l’ Liberal voters that are leaking to the Greens. Yet the Liberals will have trouble with these voters given Tony Abbott’s positions on things like the environment and climate change and asylum seekers.

More updates on the enthralling battle for this seat as they come to hand.

* There’s been endless chatter among journalists, too lazy to undertake simple civics lessons to learn that preferences are required to be lodged. And until there’s some political will to change it then this will continue to be the case. Perhaps mainstream media should talk endlessly about the need to get rid of the requirement to lodge preferences.

Tags: adam bandt, alp, cath bowtell, elction melbourne, election 2010, Greens, liberals, lindsay tanner