CRANBOURNE
Suburbs include Cranbourne, Cranbourne West, Botanic Ridge, Junction Village, Cranbourne East, and parts of Devon Meadows, Clyde and Clyde North.
Held by Pauline Richards (ALP) at 59.3 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.
1. Where do you live and how long have you lived there?
2. Why did you choose to run for the seat of Cranbourne?
3. Why are you the best candidate for Cranbourne?
4. What are the three biggest issues in your electorate and how will you fix them?
5. What are your plans to improve infrastructure and services in the region to accommodate the expanding population growth?
6. 2016 Census data shows that rental stress was highest in Cranbourne out of all suburbs in the City of Casey. How will you ease the pressure on people renting?
Pauline Richards (ALP)
Age: 53
Occupation: State Member for Cranbourne District
1. I live in Cranbourne South with my family. I’ve lived in the electorate since 2017.
2*. Only Labor will continue to invest in infrastructure for a growing community such as schools, hospitals and transport. A re-elected Labor Government will keep upgrading local schools, removing level crossings, and investing in local health services. I’ll work every day to make sure Cranbourne families are well-serviced by high-quality infrastructure, can access nation-leading hospital services and are able to send their children to first class schools.
3. We know families are working hard to make ends meet and the cost of living is a major issue for local families. That is why Labor is providing Free Kinder for 3 and 4-year-olds from next year, which will save families up to $2,500 per year, per child. We’re delivering the Power Saving Bonus, giving every household $250 and making sure they’re getting the best deal on their energy bills – with 7 out of 10 households find a cheaper offer by using Victorian Energy Compare, with average savings of $330 in the first year alone.
And we’re bringing back the SEC to drive down power bills by creating clean, government-owned energy made by Victorians, for Victorians.
Continuing our massive investments in health are also critical for the local community. Labor’s Hospital Plan for the South-East will deliver an upgraded Casey Hospital, Monash Medical Centre and Dandenong Hospital – making sure locals get quality care closer to home. A re-elected Labor Government will deliver a massive redevelopment of Monash Medical Centre – worth up to $560 million.
4. Cranbourne’s population growth is remarkable – only Labor will invest in the infrastructure and services that locals need now and into the future. Major construction is well underway on the Cranbourne Line Upgrade, with 8km of duplicated track between Cranbourne and Dandenong and a new Merinda Park Station open to customers.
5. Having a safe place to live that feels like home is important – and only Labor has a plan to support Victorians into local housing.
We’re delivering the historic $5.3 billion Big Housing Build, which together with complimentary investments will see 16,000 social and affordable homes provided for Victorians by 2026, as well as supporting around 10,000 jobs, per year over the next four years. We are delivering the Victorian Homebuyer Fund –with $1.1 billion to triple the size of available support and help thousands more Victorians realise their dream of owning a home. So far, the Fund has helped more than 2,000 Victorians buy a home – with another 1,000 applicants approved to start house-hunting knowing they have a secure funding partner. We also introduced more than 130 reforms to make renting fairer and safer for all Victorians.
* Did not answer original no. 2 question.
Gwynne Brennan (Animal Justice Party)
Age: 55
Occupation: Stakeholder Engagement Lead in government
1. I have lived in Cranbourne North for 12 years.
2. I’m a Cranbourne local and I feel strongly about social justice issues and advocating for those who need a voice.
3. I am a local, living and raising my family in Cranbourne. I am a user of services in the area and feel attuned to the problems and opportunities specific to this area. I have spent most of my career ensuring that communities are engaged in the decisions that impact them. Under this government this type of involvement of the community doesn’t occur as much as it should.
4. Cost of living.
Cost of living is a major issue for the people of Cranbourne with a huge number of people experiencing mortgage stress due to increased interest rates and the rapid rise in costs of energy and groceries.
My parties core values of of kindness, equality, rationality and non-violence are close to my heart, These values will guide how I will influence policy development to provide cost of living relief to all people in Cranbourne and across Victoria.
Adding to cost of living pressure is the high level of pet ownership in Cranbourne this leads to a situation where the welfare of pets is at risk.
The veterinary industry is in crisis, with access to affordable vet care becoming increasingly difficult. Professionals are leaving the industry and animals are going without care. I’m committed to introducing Veticare, a world-first public healthcare system for animals, to make it easier for them to get the care they deserve.
Veticare introduces public veterinary clinics across Victoria, as well as providing an opportunity for rebates or bulk-billed appointments at private clinics. When I am elected I will advocate for a public veterinary clinic to be established in Cranbourne.
Veticare provides free de-sexing of pet cats and dogs for low-income households. This will greatly improve the pressure on shelters and pounds over the next decade to deal with overbreeding.
Veticare offers more opportunities for Victoria’s vet nurses. Following the ‘nurse practitioner’ model in human health Veticare upskills vet nurses so they can perform tasks like surgery preparation, routine check-ups and dental procedures. This provides our vet nurses with more job satisfaction and allows more time for veterinarians to focus on complex elements of animal care.
Our motion calling for the establishment of Veticare has already passed the Victorian Parliament at the end of 2022. Now we have important work to do with the government to develop and implement this world-first system.
Family/Domestic violence.
Domestic violence is a significant issue in Cranbourne. It is the most common factor contributing to homelessness among women and their children, and plays a major role in the nation’s homicides.
The Animal Justice Party believes that national and state policies addressing domestic and family violence should be well resourced and evidence based. This should include addressing intersections between family and domestic violence and animal justice issues. When I am elected I will:
– Increase the coverage of domestic and family violence refuges, especially those that also shelter dependent children and animals, and provide secure funding.
– Strengthen legislation relating to animal cruelty and ensure consistent and adequate sentencing and rehabilitation for perpetrators of violence (see our Animal Law policy).
– Facilitate information sharing, collaboration and cross-training between police, other government departments, and veterinarians
– Create a single state register for convicted perpetrators of domestic and family violence and animal cruelty to forewarn potential victims and convey societal values of non-violence.
– Reform the family law system to consider the animal’s wellbeing during divorce proceedings and make it easier for victims to amend animal registration and microchipping details without alerting the perpetrator as to their whereabouts.
– Introduce compulsory reporting mechanisms for veterinarians who reasonably suspect animal abuse or domestic and family violence to be occurring.
– Include age-appropriate lessons for school children to identify and respond to animal abuse and domestic and family violence situations.
Public transport.
Road congestion is a significant problem in Cranbourne and it is increasingly difficult to move around within the district with long waits in traffic and roads in disrepair.
The Animal Justice Party (AJP) recognises that Victoria needs a shift away from road transport and toward other more environmentally-friendly modes, including all forms of rail and mass transit, together with walking and cycling. This shift needs to be concurrent with changes in urban and inter-city planning and development, with the wellbeing of animals and people factored into the design.
When I am elected I will advocate for the extension of the Cranbourne line to Clyde to take more cars off the road.
More broadly I will:
– Advocate for a rapid transition from the internal combustion engine towards hydrogen, electric vehicles and other clean technology with better emissions standards (possibly including offsets) in the interim.
– Ensure that public transport is affordable, reliable, accessible and safe for all people and companion animals.
– Prioritise walkability, active transport and public transport in town planning while minimising travel time.
– Support the technologies and practices that will allow for remote work where appropriate.
– Reduce animal deaths and injuries on roads by modifying vehicles and existing roads, including wildlife infrastructure.
– Cease the expansion and widening of road networks that destroy ecosystems and encourage urban sprawl and car-dependent communities.
5. Industries that profit from harming animals while promoting gambling receive massive subsidies from the Victorian Government and it is the Victorian tax-payer footing the bill.
Despite already being one of the wealthiest industries, Victoria’s horse racing industry receives millions of dollars in extra subsidies from the Victorian Government each year.
With communities like Cranbourne that are truly deserving of investment, it is time for the Victorian Government to stop needlessly supporting a self-sufficient lucrative industry that relies on animal and human exploitation.
We will end government subsidies to cruel industries like horse racing, freeing up hundreds of millions of dollars.
Over 10 years, this would equate to almost a billion Victorian taxpayer dollars which could be used where it is needed most.
We will divert this money to priority areas such as state infrastructure, transport and tackling the housing crisis.
Because our taxes should go to things that benefit everyone – not a profit-driven industry built on exploitation.
6. I personally recognise that housing is a critical issue, and I firmly believe that everyone has the right to adequate, safe, secure and affordable housing. This does indeed provide the bedrock for a life of dignity and wellbeing.
I also understand that homelessness and poor housing access impacts vulnerable groups significantly more than others – such as the unemployed, First Nations People, youth, seniors, migrants, those with disabilities or mental health issues and victim-survivors of family and domestic violence. These issues are compounded when people have pets and/or insecure housing.
Further, insecure housing affects both people and pets. It is a major cause of animal surrenders, and vulnerable groups living with animals are at a greater risk of housing instability.
Myself and the AJP support a proactive national housing strategy, sustained investment in affordable housing, and tax reform to address the wider issues relating to housing accessibility and affordability.
As a candidate, I wholeheartedly support improvements to public housing in order to ensure Cranbourne residents have access to a safe and secure place to call home.
I also support any further inquiries or trials that aim to look at the underlying economics and effectiveness of interventions that prevent homelessness and housing insecurity.
Ravi Ragupathy (Independent)
Age: 56
Occupation: Australian Made – International Marketing, Promoting Australian Fresh Produce and Manufacturing.
1. Lynbrook, four years living and doing businesses at home. Frequent Overseas trip around Asian Countries, during lockdowns No trips.
2. I actually nominated for Upper House – South Eastern Metropolitan, surprise to see that, against me 53 Candidates and 13 Political Parties keep each four candidates. Unbelievable being I am an Independent Candidate, I don’t want to waste my time to fight with 53 other candidates. Better withdraw my nomination, better be a local person in the Indian Community, especially South Indian community, and Tamil Speaking background.
Better I support our local multicultural community voice in the parliament. This is my third time running in an election. In 2018 I ran in the Victorian State election. Then recent May 21st Federal election – City of Holt and gained 3.8 per cent vote like minor political parties. Total votes 2,673 votes.
3. I serve the small business community in and around Cranbourne District, I support all the small businesses to survive and revive in the current economic environment. All small businesses, in Particular Indian Community businesses and my Indian community knows me very well.
My local community supports me and asks me to stand again to voice for the community.
4. There is Traffic Congestion, and extend the Train line to push further to make sure to build Kooweerup future extension with the future government.
Also for small business subsidy for the first three years and GST refund for 100 GST refund to sustain the small business in a current environment.
5. To bring a third Airport is essential to survive small businesses in this District. Make a Tourism Hub. For this we need to have a local community consultation to improve better Infrastructure with great understanding to plan a Cranbourne City.
6. The current Interest rate rises and keeps increasing, the pressure is mounting, we need to discuss these stress issues with the Local Government Ministers and with Local Councils along with local community consultation needed in this challenging turbulent times to reduce the recent rise to manage affordability. Also New Migrants and existing migrants facing acute shortage of housing needs. These issues need to find alternative arrangements for the new migrants, those who got a job in our Cranbourne District is notable here.
Did not respond:
Bradley Harvey – Freedom First Victoria
Chris Norton – Labour DLP
Peter Bernard Philpott – Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party
Jagdeep Singh – Liberal
Gerardine Hansen – Freedom Party of Victoria
Kiran Vempati – Australian Greens
