To which The Express replied ``they've got you trained well''.

``Well no. We can't always influence the media in what they might run. I don't think you would have seen any more media releases (than usual)... sometimes you get some publicity and sometimes you don't, it's more coincidence than a strategy.''

While remaining tight-lipped about the specifics of his campaign, Mr Northe said he would continue to focus on community safety, bushfire recovery, bringing jobs to the region, healthcare, tourism and police numbers leading up to the election, along with dealing with the national issue of a carbon constrained economy.

``The energy industry is very much under threat by an emissions trading scheme, so my concern is to put a plan in place,'' he said.

``It's all good to make motherhood statements recognising challenges for Latrobe Valley, but what is the plan?''

Mr Northe described the past three-and-a-half years as an ``unbelievable journey''.

``It's just opened my eyes,'' Mr Northe said.

``I've been able to meet so many people I now call my friends all over this community and that's just been fantastic.''

Mr Northe said he was forced to develop his own version of what he thought a member of parliament should be.

``I like to think I'm a genuine person who listens to the community and tries to listen to their views and act upon them,'' he said.

``The vast majority of the community understand my door's always open.''

A low profile doesn't mean he's not committed

HIS preference for keeping a low profile in Victoria's political arena thus far has sparked rumours Graeme Middlemiss is not a serious candidate for the seat of Morwell.

Since his preselection by the Australian Labor Party last year, Mr Middlemiss has been forced to reassure the public he is committed to standing in the next election.

And he maintains that position, telling The Express last week his quiet approach was part of a strategy to keep his campaign separate from that of an impending Federal Election.

``At the moment I intend to run a very low campaign during the Federal Election period and once that is clear, ramp up, so voters have a clear understanding of what the state issues are and who the candidates are,'' Mr Middlemiss said.

``My big fear through all of this is that federal and state campaigns are going to run in parallel and federal and state issues are going to become entwined and voters will have difficulty.''

Despite his low profile in state matters, Mr Middlemiss has been a local public figure for many years.

He has been a Latrobe City councillor since amalgamation in 1997 and generally votes with fellow Labor councillors.

A long-time unionist, Mr Middlemiss has worked as a power station operator in the Latrobe Valley for 28 years.

``I've been a community activist for many years so standing for parliament is perhaps just an extension of that,'' he said.

When asked how he would manage an election campaign while working long hours and attending council commitments, Mr Middlemiss said he would ``make it fit''.

``It just means I have to work a lot harder,'' he said.

But the biggest challenge, Mr Middlemiss concedes, will be re-establishing the Labor brand as credible.

The party lost its 36-year stronghold in the Latrobe Valley when a revolt in the Traralgon branch caused Lisa Proctor to turn away from the party and run as an independent candidate, directing her preferences to Russell Northe.

``It's fair to say competing factions have damaged the Labor brand in the Morwell electorate and that will be one of the greatest challenges of this campaign, to overcome that perception,'' Mr Middlemiss said.

``I'll be doing my best to do that but I'm under no illusions as to how difficult that will be.''

Mr Middlemiss described Labor in the Latrobe Valley today as ``stable''.

He believes the issue that ``overrides'' all others is the economic future of the Valley.

``There are threats to the power industry from a future carbon constrained economy,'' Mr Middlemiss said.

``At the moment Tony Abbott and Warren Truss are saying that they've saved the Valley when in actual fact what they've done is create an air of uncertainty.

``The only people I find putting forward proposals, looking into research, supporting the future are State Energy and Resources Minister Peter Batchelor and Federal Minister for Resources Martin Ferguson.''

To which The Express asked ``what about Penny Wong?''

``Penny Wong is in an awkward situation. Her role is to implement a carbon reduction policy and it's been very difficult to get that through and she's been heavily criticised for not coming to the Valley and explaining the implications here, but I'm quite comfortable with Penny Wong finalising the policy and then coming down here,'' he said.

Mr Middlemiss said he was hopeful for the future of the Valley.

``If the environment that affects the Valley allows us to adapt and adapt quickly, I think we'll survive to have a better future,'' he said.