Members of the Gippsland East electorate were given the opportunity to ‘Meet the Candidates’ at Bairnsdale Sporting and Convention Centre to garner clarity in the direction of their vote for next Saturday’s State Election.
Six of the seven candidates (excluding Independent, Ben Garrett) addressed the strong audience of more than 100 local residents, each speaking for five minutes before the microphones were turned to the audience.
Incumbent, Tim Bull, of the National Party, spoke of his willingness to get into politics being sparked by a family link to disability and the lack of services and quality infrastructure provided for those in East Gippsland.
His other major talking points included funding sporting club improvements, boosting country roads funding, stopping the “ridiculous” roll out of wire rope barriers in areas not required, and the Coalition committing to build Stage Two of the Bairnsdale Secondary College upgrade – “our biggest need in this region by far the only party that is committed to that is us”.
Labor candidate, Mark Reeves, highlighted his party’s commitment across the state, including improved train services on the Gippsland Line, the compulsory buyback of commercial fishing licences in the Gippsland Lakes, improved emergency services and a commitment for funding into education from kindergarten upwards “with our Gippsland schools a priority… and revitalising TAFE”.
Dr Deb Foskey, Greens candidate, said her party’s policies cover everything she cares about, “from refugees to forests… to climate change”. Dr Foskey said she stands for improved education, particularly for disadvantaged students, rural health infrastructure and public housing. She said her party lacks “good rural representation”. Independent candidate, George Neophytou, spoke of how he would support “longer lasting benefits” to our currently struggling drought-stricken farmers, how he would provide funding for marketing the region, sealing rail trails, hospital services, roads and bridges, new trains and rail works and justice for firefighters.
Fellow Independent candidate, Matt Stephenson, indulged the audience with his relationship with former Labor Party identity, Bill Bolitho. Mr Stephenson’s four pillars of his campaign are “protecting our assets, driving innovation and action, valuing our people and communities and servicing our changing needs”.
Mr Stephenson indicated the link between mental health, homelessness and crime will be at the forefront of thinking if he is elected, as well as fighting against climate change, improving land management and the Glenaladale mineral sands mine proposal. “I am the candidate who worked full time throughout this campaign – imagine what I could do if this was my full time job,” Mr Stephenson said.
Last of the candidates to speak was Sonia Buckley, of the Liberal Democratic party, who signalled her intent to be a “voice for change”.
Ms Buckley said she believed in lower taxes “and that’s what we fight for”, smaller government “so that we can have lower taxes because it doesn’t cost as much to run the government”.
“I won’t fail, I won’t fail on any everything that I try to deliver,” Ms Buckley said.
The gallery then had the opportunity to ask the candidates questions, including about the lack of mental health and cancer support in the region, concerns around the mineral sands mine, supporting ewaste and any bipartisan work between the parties.
PICTURED: More than 100 members of the Gippsland East electorate had the opportunity to ‘Meet the Candidates’ at Bairnsdale Sporting and Convention Centre on Wednesday ahead of next Saturday’s State Election. Six of seven Gippsland East candidates were present, each given five minutes to make their pitch to the voters on hand.
