Four candidates have thrown their hat in the ring for the seat of Hastings – who are set for the state election on Saturday 24 November.
The seat, which is currently held by Liberal MP Neale Burgess, covers 465 square kilometres including Bittern, Blind Bight, Cannons Creek, Crib Point, French Island, Hastings, HMAS Cerberus, Langwarrin, Langwarrin South, Pearcedale, Somerville, Tooradin, Tyabb and Warneet. Also parts of Baxter, Clyde, Cranbourne South, Devon Meadows, Frankston North and Moorooduc.
Here is what each of the candidates promise to deliver to the community if elected. Star News attempted to contact Georgia Knight, who is standing as a candidate for the Animal Justice Party, however she did not respond to calls before deadline.
Simon Meyer – Australian Labor Party
I was born and raised in Hastings, and have lived and worked in the electorate throughout my life. For two years, I served in the Defence Force (Navy) as a Submariner.
I have completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Accounting at Chisholm Institute of TAFE as well as studying psychiatric nursing at Monash University.
Throughout my life, I have always tried to help local communities. I’ve volunteered in Nepal, Vietnam and Namibia for aid trips with OzQuest, now called Aussie Action Abroad.
Because of my volunteer work overseas, I was honoured to receive a Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.
I am also a member of my local CFA branch, and in my spare time I enjoy scuba diving, sailing, bike riding, and bee keeping.
I am very proud at been preselected for the Australian Labor Party as my views coincide with those of the party.
I am a strong supporter of women’s rights – we need equal pay for equal work.
One of our current epidemics is domestic violence. Domestic violence is one of the most chronically underreported crimes and needs to be addressed and stopped.
I’m proud of the initiatives the Andrews Labor Government has started, including establishing the first Royal Commission into Family Violence in Australia. The state government has started implementing the Royal Commission’s recommendations, and if re-elected has pledged to implement all 227 in full.
Mental Health is also one of my key concerns, and needs further funding as well as homelessness in our community.
I’m running for Labor because only Dan Andrews and Labor will deliver for all Victorians unlike the Liberals that are just looking after the big end of town. The Andrews Labor Government has been delivering for Hastings already, and will continue to do so if re-elected.
A few things the Government has already invested in Hastings are:
• Giving over $4m to Langwarrin Primary School for a new building as part of the Asbestos Removal Program
• Funded the Suburb Roads Upgrade fund, which will include an intersection and road safety upgrades on Golf Links Road from Peninsula Link to Baxter-Tooradin Road and Grant Road from Baxter-Tooradin Road to Frankston-Flinders Road in Langwarrin South
• More bus trips between Langwarrin and Frankston
• Begun the business case for the future extension of the Frankston line to Baxter
Neale Burgess – Liberal Party
It’s no wonder people are frustrated with politics, Victoria has had Labor state governments for 15 of the last 19 years.
Crime is out of control, congestion is getting worse every day and with Labor and the Greens policies forcing our energy prices through the roof, cost of living is getting out of control for most families.
It’s not surprising this Labor government is so out of touch with the challenges local communities are facing, with so many of their MPs refusing to live in the area they represent, particularly here in the City of Casey were all three candidates have been parachuted in. Labor takes this wonderful part of Victoria for granted.
The Coalition, led by Matthew Guy has presented a vision for our state and a broad suite of new policies to support that vision.
150,000 additional people are moving into Victoria every year, and the Andrews Labor Government is encouraging them to live in already congested areas, meaning congestion under Labor can only get worse.
The state Liberal policies of providing real incentives to once again live in our state’s wonderful regions, will be a game changer for congestion and housing affordability.
Under Daniel Andrews, Victoria has become the crime capital of the nation.
Instead of being locked behind bars, violent offenders are being let straight back onto our streets to create havoc and re-offend, while Daniel Andrews continues to defend criminals and ignore victims.
Only a state Liberal government will take a zero-tolerance approach to crime.
We will ensure police have the equipment and resources but most importantly – the powers and support of our courts to get back in control.
We will fix our judicial system, which has been significantly weakened under Labor.
We’ll introduce mandatory sentences for violent re-offenders and put victims first, not criminals.
Remember this is the party who spent $1.3 billion of your money to not build a road.
We will build both the North-East Link and the East-West link, as well as remove 55 of Melbourne and Geelong’s most congested roads.
Locally in my electorate of Hastings, I have proudly made the following commitments for my community:
• $5.9 million for a full rebuild of the Cranbourne South Primary School
• $150,000 for the Devon Meadows Football Netball Club to improve lighting, provide behind the goal nets and a new playground
• $42,500 for urgent maintenance to the Devon Meadows Scouts Hall
• 40km/h flashing signage outside Pearcedale Primary School
• $300,000 for the Pearcedale Football Netball to improve amenities
Together we can get back in control of crime, congestion and cost of living.
Nathan Lesslie – Australian Greens
I am a qualified social worker who has been working in the not for profit community sector for the past 10 years. My aim is to support those in the community to reach their potential.
Through this, I have seen firsthand just how unfair the current system is and I now want to do all I can to change the system to create an Australia that is fair for all.
The way that I plan to do that for our local area is:
• We have a plan to increase school funding per student in Victoria to the national average over the next 8 years. This will allow for smaller class sizes and more support to be given to our children
• Improve school facilities through our plan to fix the outstanding school maintenance back log within 2 years and funding an ongoing school maintenance program for every government school
• Funding $111 million to ensuring accessibility and affordability of high quality early childhood education and care
• Guarantee a minimum of 70 per cent of government vocational education and training for TAFE’s to support the community to be able to better access these courses to then be able to go on and get jobs
• Stop the sale of public housing to private property developers which increases housing costs for all of us
• We have a plan to bring public assets back into public hands. Privatisation has led to big corporates getting rich off of us
• Bring in a big bank levy. This will assist in funding programs for the rest of us. With big banks being found to be fraudulent, I cannot trust them in passing down their profits to people like you and I
• We have a plan to have 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030. Get rid of the bills and have our workforce installing and maintaining these systems instead of working on dirty energy that will ruin our environment for our children and their children.
