Council
7 September, 2026
Labor announces South West Coast candidate
ANDREW Govanstone is hoping to win the seat of South West Coast at the November election.
A Portland local, Andrew is the Labor candidate for South West Coast.
“I grew up in Ballarat, spent 10 years living in and studying horticultural science in Melbourne and have now lived in Portland for the past 35 years,” Andrew said.
“My wife Tilley and I have two daughters and with a family of my own I know how important the cost of living relief for families and individuals really is.”
Andrew believes every regional community deserves access to quality education, secure jobs and the services families rely on.
For decades Andrew has helped communities work together to protect the places they love while creating new opportunities for the future.
He played an integral role in helping bring together government agencies and Traditional Owners to restore Lake Condah, which paved the way for Budj Bim to become a world heritage-listed cultural landscape.
Andrew sees renewable energy as an opportunity to create local jobs, lower energy costs and strengthen the south west economy.
“I truly believe Labor builds communities and provides the settings for people to achieve their potential through education and training,” he said.
“Cost of living relief, better roads and building strong communities are all high on my priority list.”
If elected in November, Andrew said his immediate thoughts will turn to continuing to advocate with the Minister for Health for a PET scanner for Warrnambool Base Hospital and to complete the hospital redevelopment “in a timely manner.”
“Improving the condition of our main roads, including key feeder roads to the Port of Portland which carries increasingly heavier loads, with increasing traffic volumes, will also be a priority,” he said.
“It is my hope that when people walk into the voting booth late November they are making an informed vote, in consideration of policies and principals rather than a protest ‘I’ve had a gut full’ reaction.”
