Analysis | How well did the candidates perform?

The C4GS forum at Riverlinks Eastbank pulled a 300-strong crowd and attracted four more candidates: independent Lou Costa, Labor’s Cayla Fin, Victorian Socialists’ Karen Hocking and the Nationals’ Shane Sali.

The moderators, C4GS chief executive Linda Nieuwenhuizen and the ABC’s Nic Healey, held a tight rein on the candidates, keeping them to their allotted time and preventing any fiery exchanges.

The audience was asked to hold any applause until the end, but it broke through twice in support of Ms Costa when she spoke about stopping racism and respecting that Treaty was now law.

Ms Costa did stumble on a question about water policy.

She said that she believed that there would be no further water buybacks; however, Ms Nieuwenhuizen pulled her up on that as incorrect.

After the event, multiple audience members said they thought the three women spoke well.

Ms Fin was a surprise for some; she openly said that she understood why voters may not like Labor right now and came across as well prepared.

Ms Hocking emphasised putting people before big businesses and billionaires; however, her delivery seemed a bit scattered.

Mr Sali was able to lean on the policies of the Coalition and frequently touched on funding commitments and more tangible promises.

While Mr Sali was confident and prepared, his delivery did come across as wooden and less personable than he usually is.

Mr Bryant seemed to understand the multicultural nature of the region and said that everyone was entitled to celebrate their own culture but that Australians “should work together as one to move forward as one”.

During the closing statements, the candidates talked about their most important issues and their political philosophy.

Mr Bryant was the exception. He said that Gina Rinehart was the number one taxpayer in Australia and that there “was snow in the High Country this week”.

The first comment, intended to refute the idea that the ultra wealthy don’t pay tax, was laughed at by the audience.

Mrs Rinehart’s personal tax information is not public knowledge.

The second, which implied anti-climate change beliefs, was met with groans.

The following night, Tuesday, November 10, the same candidates attended the Demystify Politics and Politicians candidates forum hosted by The Door Bells - Migrant Women’s Network.

The Shepparton candidates have also been invited to the Mooroopna Community Candidates’ Forum alongside candidates for Northern Victoria.

Four other candidates have been confirmed to appear on the Shepparton ballot; however, they did not attend.

They are Family First’s Alison White, the Greens’ Grace Verney, Animal Justice Party’s Faith Murphy-Ginger and independent Johnson Varkey.