RUSSELL Broadbent said he wouldn’t stand for the seat of Monash again, but he did, as an independent.

The Federal electorate of Monash was thrown wide open when Mr Broadbent failed to gain Liberal Party endorsement for the seat in November 2023 and chose to move to the crossbenches.

At the last election in 2022, Broadbent won the seat of Monash for the Liberal Party with 46 per cent of the primary vote and 57 per cent of the final vote after the distribution of preferences.

First elected to the House of Representatives for Corinella in 1990, Russell Broadbent was defeated at the general election in 1993, subsequently elected as the Member for McMillan in 1996 but again defeated in 1998.

Elected to represent McMillan in 2004, Mr Broadbent held the seat for the Liberals in 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016 and after a redistribution was elected to represent Monash in 2019 and 2022.

Mr Broadbent’s record of service was exhaustive most recently including Deputy Chair of the Human Rights Parliamentary Committee in 2023, and Deputy Chair of the Workforce Australia Employment Services Committee from 2022.

Born in Koo Wee Rup, Russell Broadbent was a successful retailer with a small chain of stores, company director, Councillor and Shire President of the Shire of Pakenham.

With three adult children, three grandchildren and dog Caesar, Russell Broadbent and his wife Bronwyn are no doubt looking forward to spending more time relaxing between their homes in Pakenham and Cowes.

Mr Broadbent said what he found most fulfilling during his parliamentary career was meeting the people of Monash, hearing their personal stories and incorporating them in his contribution to the Federal Parliament.

“People remember stories and often play a powerful role in influencing policy development,” said Mr Broadbent.

“My involvement across the small business, aged care and disability sectors for more than 50 years equipped me with the experience, compassion and drive to advocate strongly on these matters.

“In recent times I’ve taken a stand against independent assessments for those in the NDIS and the potential privatisation of the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT).”

Mr Broadbent also called for increased respect, safety and justice for women, and equitable financial support for residents and businesses in regional Victoria affected by the pandemic lockdowns.

Passionate about speaking out for those who are most in need, Mr Broadbent described himself as nothing if not persistent, some might say determined.

Mr Broadbent was an outspoken critic of mandated COVID-19 vaccinations.

In November 2023, Mr Broadbent made the decision to resign from the Liberal Party and move to the crossbenches after failing to gain Liberal Party endorsement for Monash.

Mr Broadbent said it had been an honour to stand in the Parliament as the Liberal Member for Monash for 25 years.

Renominating for the seat of Monash as an independent Mr Broadbent said he had been asked many times to stand again and that’s what he did.

Mr Broadbent acknowledged the need for a national coastal erosion policy with the Federal Government working closely with State Governments.

It was during Mr Broadbent’s term of office in February 2022 that Inverloch was awarded $3.3 million from the Australian Government’s $50 million Coastal and Estuarine Risk Mitigation Program for on-ground works outlined in the Cape to Cape Resilience Project to reduce disaster risk to critical infrastructure and services for the Inverloch township and surrounding region.

A difference of opinion between Mr Broadbent and the Federal Parliamentary Liberal Party on the issue of taxation saw him lose the party’s endorsement.

“That, and my age,” said Mr Broadbent.

Mr Broadbent had favoured a complete overhaul of the Australian taxation system.

Among his extensive roles in the parliament, Mr Broadbent had been a member of the Speakers’ Panel in recognition of the experience and respect he enjoyed on both sides of politics.

“I am not, and never have been, a yes man,” said Mr Broadbent.

“I crossed the floor when I was a member of the Liberal Party and was prepared to take a stand when it matters, even when it put my career on the line.”

Mr Broadbent said it had been an honour serving as the Member for Monash for the past 20 years.

“From the bottom of my heart, I thank each and every volunteer and supporter for their dedication and support, not only during this campaign but over the past four years.

“We fought the good fight,” Mr Broadbent said in a release to his supporters on Wednesday.