At just 18, Mr Bethune is set to join a rare club, running for office in the first election he’s eligible to vote in.
“When I looked at all the different parties and what they stand for, I think the Victorian Socialists was the only one I really agreed with,” he said.
“I think being the first person to run (for VS) in this seat isn’t as important as it may seem to some people, I think the important thing is we’re making a start.
“Even if I don’t win or get many votes, the most important thing is there’s someone running in this seat now and there continues to be someone running in this seat in the future.”
The Victorian Socialists are yet to win a seat in either house of Victorian Parliament and Mr Bethune isn’t expecting to break that streak, instead focusing on giving voters an option to send a message to the seat’s dominant party.
But just because he’s not necessarily running to win, it doesn’t mean Mr Bethune is any less passionate about the party and what it stands for than any of its other candidates.
“I’m a socialist through and through,” he said.
“If the Nationals win, I hope they see the support progressive candidates get and take an approach more in line with VS, especially when it comes to things like fairer pay and fixing roads and state infrastructure, because it’s a real issue here.”
Mr Bethune is the fifth candidate announced for the district of Murray Plains.
The Victorian election will take place on November 28.
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