The only way for the mighty Mallee region to have any sway with the federal power brokers is to become an independent seat.

To swing your vote is to swing the bat of power, which is being demonstrated at the moment in the arena of federal politics, with the independents and the minor parties holding all the cards.

In the Mallee region the Labor party is unable to win the seat and the Coalition is unable to deliver any benefits to the area, which has been proven over the past decade.

There are no visits from the political elite, even though the Mallee potentially has a very influential roll in climate change technology, in the areas of agriculture, solar power, water use.

All of which in the future will become very important to the survival and well being of the ever growing world population.

For the moment neither of the major parties will have much time for the future of the Mallee or any other safe seat.

James A. Paterson,

Robinvale.