The inner-west seat of Gellibrand has been held by the Labor Party since it was created in 1949 and while a series of redistributions and gentrification have changed its location and demographics since, there’s little chance of it changing political allegiances on May 3.
Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Tim Watts has held Gellibrand since 2013 and enjoys an 11.2 per cent margin after the latest redistribution, slightly down from 11.5 at the 2022 election.
Traditionally based around Footscray, the creation of the neighbouring seat of Fraser in 2018 meant Gellibrand was pushed to the south and west, taking in parts of the Wyndham council area such as Point Cook, Williams Landing and Truganina .
Meanwhile losing Yarraville means Gellibrand no longer takes in any part of the Maribyrnong council area and Spotswood and Brooklyn shifting to Fraser means it no longer covers all of Hobsons Bay either.
No one knows these shifting boundaries better than Watts, who when first elected in 2013, occupied an electoral office on the junction of Geelong Road and Barkly Street in Footscray.
His office is now 7km away on Melbourne Road in Newport.
The change in location is unlikely to result in a change in fortunes though, with the sitting MP facing only four challengers compared to seven in 2022.
The Federation Party, Victorian Socialists, Liberal Democrats and United Australia Party are not running again, while Family First is.
The Liberals Ben Reeson and The Greens Ponraj Krishna Pandi are likely to vie for second place, with Krishna Pandi likely to benefit from continued gentrification of the area and discontent with Labor over its stance on the conflict in Gaza.
Newport is home to a large Muslim community and one of Victoria’s largest mosques and Krishna Pandi has been sharply critical of Watts on the issue of Palestine.
Reeson is a former state Liberal candidate for the seat of Niddrie and had a late start to the campaign, only being endorsed a week after the election was called.
Family First’s Jo Garcia is a mother of eight and grandmother of four, with a background in nursing small business and real estate.
Jo Garcia Family First:
I’m Jo Garcia, Family First candidate for Gellibrand. I live in Point Cook and I am committed to putting families first in Parliament. I will fight to cut power prices by ending costly net zero policies, protect parents’ rights to choose education aligned with their values, and safeguard children from harmful radical gender ideology in schools. I believe in restoring freedom, faith, and family values so every Gellibrand resident can thrive. Together with Family First’s lead Senate candidate Bernie Finn, we will be a strong voice for our community, standing up for affordable living, parental rights, and protecting the vulnerable.
Ponraj Krishna Pandi The Greens:
I’m running for Gellibrand because politics should serve everyday people—not just billionaires and big corporations. As a father, community volunteer, and IT consultant, I see how inequality affects housing, healthcare, education, and our environment. Gellibrand is proudly multicultural, with residents from over 140 countries. I’m campaigning for rent caps, cost-of-living relief, fair lending practices, better public transport, and fully funded schools, hospitals, and youth services. I’m committed to bold climate action that creates secure, green jobs. I’ll be a strong, grassroots voice for a fairer, thriving Gellibrand.
Ben Reeson Liberal:
It’s time for change to get Australia back on track. Like many people in Gellibrand, I work at a small family business and know how tough things have been for families under Labor. As a renter, I care deeply about the rising cost of living and I want to make housing cheaper, safer, and more stable.I know that we need to lower inflation to make homes more affordable and lower our cost of living. Only the Liberals have a plan to get Australia back on track.
Tim Watts Labor:
If re-elected, we’ll back all Australians. Strengthening Medicare, making childcare cheaper, wiping 20 per cent from HECS debts and providing two more tax cuts for all. We’re building Australia’s future right here in the west, committing more than $70 million in infrastructure locally and putting $1.1 billion to upgrading the Western Freeway. We’re delivering $5 million for the Point Cook Community Hub, $5 million for the Kororoit Creek trail to transform our natural environment, and investing more than $840,000 in community sports infrastructure. A vote for Labor is a vote for investing in Melbourne’s west.
