Borrowing from Einstein’s definition of insanity — "doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results” has been the overarching narrative in local politics for years.
I and others warned that Opposition pledges rarely turn into local deliverables.
Four years later, that warning has played out. The Nationals' 2022 campaign promised over $400 million for Shepparton — including $260 million for the bypass, $100 million for GV Health, and $20 million for the sports stadium.
Yet as Kim O’Keeffe steps down after a single term, where are those deliverables? What was actually achieved beyond a steady stream of local newspaper photo opportunities?
Instead of securing funding, the Coalition’s focus has been on dragging regional Victoria backward — promising to repeal Treaty legislation and waging ideological wars against the cheaper, clean energy transition regional households need.
Now, with the preselection of former Mayor Shane Sali for the Nationals, voters face total déjà vu.
Are we simply repeating the cycle of using the mayoralty as a stepping stone to an Opposition backbench, only to receive photo ops and unfulfilled pledges in return?
Independent representation like we had under Suzanna Sheed proved that focused, unaligned advocacy delivers real results like rail, school, and health funding.
Electors must ask: do we want recycled strategies and photo ops, or a representative who will actually deliver for Shepparton?
Independents have only one master — the electorate.
This year I believe that electing a local, focused, non party-aligned independent like Lou Costa would be the best result for the Shepparton electorate.
Ern Meharry
Shepparton
13°C