Lethlean Challenges Allan in Bendigo East

0:00It's April 14. This is Sidney News today, your AI-powered local news. Andrew Lethian shocked everyone last year by flipping the federal seat of Bendigo from safe labor hands. The nationals' public can grab more than a 10% swing against Lisa Chester's, leaving her margin under 1.5%. Now he's aiming even higher, running against Premier Jacinta Allen in her Bendigo East State seat this November. The state government's hurting in polls after three terms, loaded with baggage, and that's got the nationals fired up. Allen's holding a 10.8% margin, but Lethian's local roots and campaign chops from hospitality running pubs and clubs for 30. Years can make it tight. He's no career politician, just a hometown guy pushing for regional change. Locals are filling a mood shift. One Bendigo East resident, Jim Evans, knows both candidates well. He taught Lethian back in the early 1980s and got a personal note from, Allen for his 90th birthday.

1:01He digs Allen's listening ear on local issues, like saving the community pool, but admits Lethian's popularity as a former star footballer gives him, real poll. Experts like Monash politics, prof. Jury Gazarian, called Bendigo East, safe labor turf, since Allen took it in 1999. Still, her primary vote dipped a bit last eight poll, and if anti-government vibes build, this could turn into a nail-biter on election night. With the Victorian poll still over six months out, Lethian's officially in the race, forcing Allen to defend her backyard while the nationals dream of a historic upset that echo in pubs for years.