00:02It was all smiles on the streets of Dramana for the new Liberal candidate and almost as new Opposition Leader.
00:08Bloody hell, you're pretty young.
00:10The Liberal Party today launching the campaign of its candidate for Nepean, Anthony Marsh.
00:15This is Anthony, this is our candidate for Nepean.
00:18The three-time Mornington Peninsula Shire Mayor became a Liberal Party member just this month,
00:23only days before seeking pre-selection, despite campaigning as a staunch independent during council elections.
00:30A lot of the big structural issues down here on the peninsula in the seat of Nepean are state problems
00:34and you have to be a member of a team to make a difference in state.
00:38The seat of Nepean takes in the picturesque bayside communities of Rosebud, Sorrento and Portsea.
00:44The biggest issue is the Rosebud Hospital.
00:46One of the big things is the development that's happening on Arthur's seat.
00:51Traffic management, there's some pretty dangerous spots along the Nepean.
00:56The by-election was triggered by former Liberal Deputy Sam Groth's sensational exit from politics.
01:01He blamed party infighting, the fallout leaving some Liberal voters hesitant.
01:07The previous incumbent sort of dropped the ball and walked away with his bat.
01:12Meanwhile, Labor's ruled out contesting the by-election.
01:15Labor typically doesn't run a candidate in non-held seats in by-elections and that's been the case for the
01:22past quarter century.
01:24I think they know the writings on the wall, don't they?
01:26Despite Labor not contesting the by-election, the Liberals still face multiple threats from local independents
01:33and a surging One Nation party, which will be revealing its candidate tomorrow.
01:38If they perform well, then that's an ominous sign for the coalition, the Liberal Party in particular.
01:42We take nothing for granted. They are looking for change. They want to change the government.
01:47The Nepean by-election will be held on May 2.
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