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THE sensational dumping of Julia Gillard has been met by mixed reactions in her seat of Lalor, as residents not only lose their prime minister but also their local member since 1998.
Ms Gillard, the sitting member for 15 years, won the seat in 2010 with 65 per cent of the primary vote.
Labor has held the seat of Lalor, spanning Wyndham, Melton and part of Hobsons Bay, since 1969.
Werribee resident Craig Berry said Ms Gillard had been a hard-working local member.
“People say you have to be in a swinging seat for things to get done, but things were done here,” he said.
“I’m a Gillard supporter but I understand them putting Kevin Rudd back in again, otherwise they would have lost more seats – it was a pragmatic decision.”
Mr Berry said the Labor candidate for Lalor at the upcoming election would have “big shoes to fill”.
Susan Ingram, of Wyndham Vale, said she was pleased Ms Gillard was resigning.
“She has played dirty politics. From from a personal point of view, dealing with her local office has been difficult.”
The Liberal party’s Lalor candidate, Nihal Samara, said instability rocking the government had been become a major concern among residents.
He said party in-fighting would continue.
“The issue we have is that Labor are still focused on managing their own jobs and looking after themselves, which they continue to do, and continue to ignore the needs of Lalor.
It is not yet known who will replace Ms Gillard as the Labor Party’s candidate for Lalor, but political analysts suggest it will be a woman from the right factions of the party.
Monash University lecturer Nick Economou said Wednesday night’s leadership change was the “only clever thing” the Labor party had done in three years.
“They won’t win the election, but it will mitigate disaster,” he said.
“In Lalor, they may be a swing to the Liberal party, but Labor will still win it. The Labor vote has always been strong in Victoria.”
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