BALLARAT (ALP)WHO'S STANDING1 COATES, Belinda (Greens) 2 BANWELL, Mark (Liberal) 3 RAINEY, Jim (Family First) 4 KING, Catherine (ALP) *Swing required: 8.1%* Sitting memberPROFILEThe electorate of Ballarat covers an area of about 4652 square kilometres from Ballarat in the west to Bacchus Marsh in the east. It also includes the towns of Ballan, Blackwood, Buninyong, Clunes, Creswick, Daylesford, Myrniong and Trentham. Ballarat shares boundaries with the divisions of Bendigo in the north, Lalor and McEwen in the east, Corangamite and Corio in the south and Wannon in the west. First Proclaimed/Election: 1901MEMBERSKing, C (ALP) 2001-Ronaldson, M (LP) 1990-2001Mildren, J B (ALP) 1980-1990Short, J R (LP) 1975-1980Erwin, G D (LP) 1955-1975Joshua, R (ALP) 1951-1955Pittard, A C (LP) 1949-1951Pollard, R T (ALP) 1937-1949Fisken, A C W (UAP) 1934-1937McGrath, D C (ALP/UAP) 1920-1934Kerby, E T J (NAT) 1919-1920McGrath, D C (ALP) 1913-1919Deakin, A (PROT/LIB) 1901-1913ANALYSISTen-year veteran Catherine King has run a steady, if unspectacular, campaign as the Liberal candidate Mark Banwell struggled for traction, partly due to an early campaign slip up which led to claims he was gagged by his own party. There is nothing to suggest Ms King will not be returned with a comfortable margin. A good result for Mr Banwell would be to halve Ms King's margin. The Greens could poll in double figures in the seat for the first time.BENDIGO (ALP)WHO'S STANDING1 GIBBONS, Steve (ALP)* 2 DIMONZANTOS, Kymberlie (Greens) 3 HUNTER, Craig (Liberal) 4 HOWARD, Alan (Family First)Swing required: 8.1%* Sitting memberPROFILEThe seat of Bendigo covers an area of about 7286 square kilometres. Built on goldmining, the main population centre of Bendigo is now the administrative, commercial and educational centre for North Central and Northern Victoria. The electorate supports a diverse range of farming, agricultural and viticultural activities along with continuing gold mining and other extractive industries. Other large population centres in the electorate include Maryborough, Castlemaine and Maldon. First Proclaimed/Election: 1901MEMBERSGibbons, S (ALP) 1998-; Reid, B (LP) 1990-1998; Brumby, J M (ALP) 1983-1990; Bourchier, J W (LP) 1972-1983; Kennedy, A D (ALP) 1969-1972; Beaton, N L (ALP) 1960-1969; Clarey, P J (ALP) 1949-1960; Rankin, G J (ST CP/UCP/CP) 1937-1949; Harrison, E F (UAP) 1931-1937; Kean, R V (ALP) 1929-1931; Hurry, G (NAT) 1922-1929; Hughes, W M (NAT) 1917-1922; Hampson, A J (ALP) 1915-1917; Arthur, J A (ALP) 1913-1914; Quick, J (PROT/IND PROT/LIB) 1901-1913.ANALYSISWhile not considered a safe seat, if Labor was to lose a seat like Bendigo, it would be a disaster for the party. More likely, Steve Gibbons, the member since 1998, will retain the seat with the ALP polling stronger in Victoria than in other states.CORANGAMITE (ALP)WHO'S STANDING1 LAWRENCE, Mike (Greens) 2 HENDERSON, Sarah (Liberal) 3 CHEESEMAN, Darren (ALP)*4 BROWN, Sally-Anne (Independent) 5 WOJCZUK, Ann (Family First) 6 TIMMINS, Nathan (Liberal Democrats) Swing required: 0.9%* Sitting memberPROFILECorangamite covers an area of 7724 square kilometres encasing spectacular coastline, scenic rainforest, magnificent beaches, and rolling plains. The localities of Anglesea, Apollo Bay, Barwon Heads, Colac, Inverleigh, Linton (part), Meredith, Pitfield, Lorne, Torquay and Winchelsea and parts of the Greater City of Geelong. The division of Corangamite is bordered by the division of Wannon to the west, the division of Ballarat to the north and the division of Corio to the east. First Proclaimed/Election: 1901MEMBERSCheeseman, D (ALP) 2007-; McArthur, S (LP) 1984-2007; Street, A A (LP) 1966-1984; Mackinnon, E D (LP) 1953-1966; McDonald, A M (UAP/LP) 1940-1953; Street, G A (UAP) 1934-1940; Gibson, W G (CP) 1931-1934; Crouch, R A (ALP) 1929-1931; Gibson, W G (FU/VFU/CP) 1918-1929; Manifold, J C (LIB/NAT) 1913-1918; Scullin, J H (ALP) 1910-1913; Wilson, J G (FT/ANTI-SOC) 1903-1910 ; Manifold, J C (PROT) 1901-1903.ANALYSISA very close seat which Labor must win if it is to be re-elected. Corangamite was strong Liberal territory until 2007 when former Ballarat councillor Darren Cheeseman took the seat for the ALP. Both Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard have visited the electorate during the campaign and made significant promises. A result is too close to call.CORIO (ALP)WHO'S STANDING1 BROWN, Gavin (Greens)2 BULL, Sue (Socialist Alliance)3 MARLES, Richard Donald (ALP)*4 AMBERLEY, Scott (Family First) 5 GIBSON, Don (Liberal)Swing required: 8.9% * Sitting memberPROFILECorio covers an area of about 815 square kilometres from the western shores of Port Phillip Bay, stretching to the north of Geelong and inland and covering part of the Bellarine Peninsula. Suburbs and towns include areas to the south-west of Ballarat such as Anakie. The majority of the seat is based around Geelong.First Proclaimed/Election: 1900-1901MEMBERSMarles, R (ALP) 2007- ; O'Connor, G (ALP) 1993-2007; Scholes, G G D (ALP) 1967-1993; Opperman, H F (LP) 1949-1967; Dedman, J J (ALP) 1940-1949; Casey, R G (UAP) 1931-1940; Lewis, A (ALP) 1929-1931; Lister, J H (NAT) 1917-1929; Ozanne, A T (ALP) 1914-1917; Kendell, W (LIB) 1913-1914; Ozanne, A T (ALP) 1910-1913; Crouch, R A (PROT) 1901-1910.ANALYSISPerennially a safe Labor seat which borders Julia Gillard's electorate of Lalor in the north, there is unlikely to be any surprises in Corio on election day. Incumbent member Richard Marles is seen as a potential ministerial candidate should Labor be re-elected.WANNON (LIB)WHO'S STANDING1 PURCELL, James (Independent) 2 LEUTTON, Ralph (Independent) 3 TEHAN, Dan (Liberal)4 MARSH, Allan (Independent) 5 McNAMARA, Judith (ALP) 6 CONCEPCION, Jahzeel (Family First) 7 OWEN, Lisa (Greens) 8 O'BRIEN, Robert (Independent) 9 RAINSFORD, Katrina (Independent)Swing required: 7.5%* Sitting member David Hawker (Lib) has retiredPROFILEWannon covers an area of about 33,854 square kilometres from the southern coastline of Victoria, to the northern boundaries of Glenelg Shire, Southern Grampians Shire and Pyrenees Shire and takes in the southern part of the Northern Grampians Shire. The main towns and areas of interest include Ararat, Avoca, Camperdown, Great Western, Halls Gap, Hamilton, Koroit, Port Campbell, Port Fairy, Portland, Stawell, Terang and Warrnambool. It also covers Beaufort, Lake Bolac and Skipton.First Proclaimed/Election: 1900-1901MEMBERSHawker, D (LP) 1983-2010; Fraser, J M (LP) 1955-1983; McLeod, D (ALP) 1951-1955; McKinnon, E D (LP) 1949-1951; McLeod, D (ALP) 1940-1949; Scholfield, T H (UAP) 1931-1940; McNeill, J (ALP) 1929-1931; Rodgers, A S (NP) 1925-1929; McNeill, J (ALP) 1922-1925; Rodgers, A S (LIB/NAT) 1913-1922; McDougall, J K (ALP) 1906-1913; Robinson, A (FT) 1903-1906; Cooke, S W (FT) 1901-1903.ANALYSISSitting member David Hawker has retired after 27 years, opening up the race for Wannon for new blood. The seat of former prime minister Malcolm Fraser, Wannon is a conservative stronghold. Expect Liberal candidate Dan Tehan to continue that tradition.