‘Doer’ Bob says he’s ready

By Danny Buttler
BOB Halsall once starred as a loudmouth footy fan in a Jila mint advertisement.
He’s since shed the beanie and scarf, but he’s still loud and still unhappy with the way the game is going.
Leading a coalition of independents under the banner of “Make the State Pay”, Bob seems ropable that local ratepayers are footing the bill for the Brookland Greens fiasco.
He reckons the State Government should pay and he’s punting on local voters thinking the same thing.
Just a few days ago, his campaign would have been a sideshow in the upcoming state election.
But with this week’s massive Casey Council rate slug linked to the Brookland Greens clean-up, perhaps Bob has displayed that most valuable of political talents – timing.
He will certainly need every advantage he can find as he seeks to cover some major problems for a wannabe MP campaigning on a single issue.
In no particular order he has to overcome a wife, (Janet, who lost her job as Casey mayor due to her poor handling of the Brookland Greens issue), little or no campaign funding and multiple attempts at running for council.
The 57-year-old would rather Janet was not linked to his campaign, but realises this is simply not going to happen.
Despite the personal toll Brookland Greens and the subsequent media coverage took on his family, Bob reckons he is made of the right stuff when it comes to handling political attacks.
“The personal attacks on Janet were not very pleasant (but) I’ve got a hide as thick as a rhinoceros, you can’t insult me, I’m not fazed by anything,” he said.
His many losing tilts at council have given the house-husband a realistic view of what lies before him on the campaign trail.
“Having run for council four or five times, I think I am unelectable,” he says before bursting into raucous laughter.
But he is suddenly serious when talking about the perceived failure of Jude Perera to stand up for his constituents in Cranbourne District.
“If I were in Jude Perera’s position I’d be screaming from the rafters, I’d be the most annoying MP in the State Parliament,” he said. “I’d be knocking on the door of the Premier’s office and yelling ‘Mr Brumby, are you there? I have a problem’.”
He may lack experience and even a realistic chance of winning, but one thing Bob has in spades is confidence.
Asked if he could see himself in the green seats of Spring Street, there was not a moment’s hesitation.
“I could do it easily … I could do it in my sleep.”
What about the onerous responsibilities of holding the balance of power?
“If I did that you would hear me screaming ‘Hallelujah’ from the treetops, I would be absolutely in my element,” he said.
He’s a colourful and passionate character and he reckons that is what is needed in the halls of power.
“They need people who are there, not for a career, but because they think it is a place where they can do some good. I don’t think enough of them do that.”