Time to make a stand

NOMINATIONS are open for candidates for the Lyndhurst by-election.
Tim Holding resigned on 18 February during his fourth term as the electorate’s MP, leaving the seat vacant.
The vote to elect a new representative will be held on 27 April, and acting electoral commissioner Liz Williams encouraged prospective candidates to put their hand up.
They must be on the Victorian electoral roll but don’t have to live or be enrolled in Lyndhurst.
Party endorsed candidates must lodge a correctly completed nomination form and a $350 nomination fee with the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) at Level 11, 530 Collins Street, Melbourne by noon on Wednesday 27 March.
Independent candidates must lodge their nomination form with a $350 nomination fee with election manager Bill Lang at the election office at Shop 2 and 3, 31-32 Douglas Street, Noble Park, by noon on Thursday 28 March. Appointments are encouraged.
Nomination forms can be downloaded from vec.vic.gov.au or obtained by calling Mr Lang on 9548 0223.
Mr Lang will also hold an information session for independent candidates at the election office at 4pm on Tuesday 12 March.
Ms Williams said voting in the by-election was compulsory and urged Lyndhurst residents to ensure their electoral roll details were up to date and show up on polling day or risk a fine.
Enrolment forms are also available from any post office, Centrelink or Australian Electoral Commission office.
The Victorian Electoral Commission will write to all enrolled voters prior to election day to detail the location of early voting and election day voting centres.