There were polite digs in each direction after the tense Bendigo vote count drew to a close last weekend, with a concession of likely defeat from the Nationals’ Andrew Lethlean on 9 May, followed by the Labor Party’s incumbent, Lisa Chesters MP, claiming victory on Saturday 10 May. The two-party preferred count of votes in the Federal Election ended in the Bendigo electorate with Lisa Chesters on 51.4 per cent and the Nationals’ Andrew Lethlean on 48.6 per cent.

In his statement to media, Mr Lethlean said he was “disappointed” in the result but proud of being part of a team that delivered a swing against the Labor Party.

“I put myself forward as a candidate for the seat of Bendigo because I wanted to make a difference, given the Labor Party has taken our region for granted for so long,” he said, before adding: “I am confident that we won’t be taken for granted again.”

Mr Lethlean also said that his party would monitor to ensure that Labor’s local funding commitments, some of which matched pledges by the Nationals, were followed through.

Ms Chesters, retaining the seat in the House of Representatives that she has held since 2013, said: “I am honoured and humbled to have been elected to represent our community in Bendigo and central Victoria for the fifth time.” And in reference perhaps to the campaigns waged by her political opponents, Ms Chesters added: “Our grassroots local campaign was focused on the things that are most important to our community – not on negative personal politics, funded by millions of dollars.”

Mr Lethlean congratulated the returning member and said “I hope that she works hard to represent the needs of our community.” Ms Chesters reply was: “I will continue to work hard every day to deliver the things people and businesses in our region need and deserve.”

This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 16 May 2025.