NEWS DESK
Campaign funding questioned
Police patrol
Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au LABOR has refused to confirm whether electorate officers were seconded to work on election campaigns at Frankston, Carrum and Mordialloc before the state election last year amid allegations taxpayers’ money was misused to pay for election campaigning. Three unnamed Victorian Labor MPs and a party official told the Herald Sun last week they feared parliamentary rules banning the use of electorate office funds for political campaigning had been broken. The Labor insiders said electorate staff had allegedly been “pooled” from Labor Upper House MPs electorate staff to work on the party’s Community Action Network field campaign aimed at winning government. Labor media adviser Kosta Pandos asked for a statement to be attributed to a government spokesperson when contacted by The News about the allegations. “These allegations are desperate and untrue. All activity undertaken by electorate officers, and Victorian Labor pool staff, was in keeping with parliamentary rules,” the statement read. “Pool staff arrangements have been in place in the Victorian Parliament for almost 20 years and have been overseen by presiding officers from both sides of politics. “Pooling resources is an efficient way for political parties to support MPs and conduct parliamentary party business.” Repeated requests to confirm wheth-
Bash cam: Video images of the men. Note the distinctive ponytail on the older man.
Men sought over bashing Carrum candidates: Ex-Carrum Liberal MP Donna Bauer, left, Greens candidate Henry Kelsall and Carrum Labor MP Sonya Kilkenny during last year’s election campaign.
er electorate officers campaigned in Frankston, Carrum or Mordialloc went unanswered. Labor’s election campaign also included help from unpaid volunteers and union members. Labor’s “boots on the ground” approach to electioneering in the lead up to November’s state election has been credited by Premier Daniel Andrews as a key factor in the party’s victories in marginal seats. The so-called sand belt seats of Frankston, Carrum and Mordialloc are pivotal to both Labor and the Liberal Party’s chances of forming government. All three electorates swung to Labor last November with Paul Edbrooke, Sonya Kilkenny and Tim Richardson winning the seats from Liberal incumbents to contribute to a total of 48 seats won across the state against the Liberal National Coalition’s 38 seats. Former Carrum Liberal MP Donna Bauer said “numerous people” had ex-
pressed concerns about the possible misuse of taxpayer funds. “It is well known that the Carrum electorate was a key focal point for that Community Action Network campaign and that large numbers of its campaigners were very active in the electorate throughout 2014 and on election day,” she said. “Carrum constituents are understandably keen to know whether the ALP misused any taxpayer resources during the campaign for the seat of Carrum. “They are worried that voters in Carrum may have been deceived by what was portrayed as a community campaign but may in fact have been a professional campaign, resourced using illicitly obtained taxpayer funds. I believe they are entitled to know the truth.” The Victorian Parliament’s Legislative Council will investigate the allegations about the misuse of paid electorate officers and decide whether an in-depth inquiry is needed.
WORLD CLASS, WORLD TOUR
KINGSTON police are seeking two men involved in the bashing of a taxi driver in Graham Rd, Clayton, 5.45am, 29 August. Detective Senior Constable Steven Hemingway, of Moorabbin CIU, said the taxi driver sustained a broken nose in the unprovoked assault after the men had left the Maison D’ Amour brothel. He said the front seat passenger was of special interest. He is described as Islander in appearance, 20s, with a solid build. The rear seat passenger is described as Islander, 30s, with a distinctive ponytail. Anyone with information is asked to call 000 or Kingston CIU on 9556 6565.
Door forced
Axe used in robbery
THIEVES jumped a fence to rob an Edithvale Rd, Edithvale house, 11.30pm, Friday. The 45-year-old victim told Kingston police the culprits entered through an adjoining vacant milk bar, corner of Vincent St, and forced the door to a garage. They forced another door into the house where the man and his family were sleeping upstairs. A wallet containing $1500 and three credit cards, car keys and his wife’s handbag containing $30 and two credit cards was stolen. The handbag was later found empty on the front porch. The thieves left via the front door, taking the victim’s Toyota Camry sedan, registration XPT009. A passer-by found property belonging to the victim on the Princes Hwy near Bairnsdale. Anyone with information should call Kingston police on 9556 6565.
A MOTORCYCLIST produced an axe and became aggressive when robbing a Mentone service station, 7.10pm, Thursday. The 44-year-old female attendant saw the rider pull up beside a bowser on a motorbike with no registration plates at the station on the corner of Lower Dandenong and Boundary roads. The attendant became suspicious when he began to walk over to the convenience store without removing his helmet and face mask. She quickly bolted the door and motioned to him to remove the items, which he did. The man entered the store and waited for another customer to leave. He then produced a small axe from a backpack and demanded money. The attendant handed over $80 and the man stole an energy drink and fled on the bike. Call Kingston police on 9556 6565 with information.
AMILY FUN
EF AFFORDABL
ROSEBUD
DEATH G DEFYIN CS I T A B O R AC
BOOK NOW 0498 666 388
ILY GREAT FAM
FUN!
www.zirkacircus.com.au
ROSEBUD CARNIVAL SITE NEPEAN HIGHWAY
10 - 13 SEPT
$10 FROM
9 SEPT
10 Sept
11 Sept
12 Sept
13 Sept
-
7pm
7pm
2pm 7pm
1pm 4:30pm
Ticket Prices
VIP
RINGSIDE
ELEVATED
SIDEVIEW*
Adult
$40
$35
$29
$22
Child**
$29
$25
$19
$10
Concession^
$38
$33
$27
N/A
Family Pass
N/A
N/A
$86
N/A
(2 Adult + 2 Child or 1 Adult + 3 Child)
*Sideview: Limited seats available 1 hour before each performance. ** Children aged 2-12 to be accompanied bu an adult. ^ Seniors, Beneficiaries, Disabled and Full time student. ID required. No changes or refunds once tickets are allocated. Booking Fees apply.
New generation TOP-UP hearing aids now FREE* Eligible pensioners and veterans There is no longer any need to are entitled to FREE hearing feel left out, isolated or frustrated aids through the government’s by not being able to hear clearly hearing services scheme*, or in noisy social environments. they can pay extra (TOP-UP) for Major scientic advances in hearing aids with additional or computer processing and wiremore advanced features or for a less technology have enabled the smaller size. latest hearing aids to emulate the As an EXCLUSIVE cognitive processing of the brain SPECIAL OFFER, Hidden to focus on speech and reduce Hearing is providing eligible interfering background noise. pensioners and veterans The improvement is dramatic and
with certain hearing needs to beTOP-UP experienced to be aids incorporating the islatest appreciated, which why we’re generation offering atechnology FREE TRIAL to the FREE OFpeople CHARGE until theto rst 50 who respond END SEPTEMBER. thisOF offer. Hear and enjoy the The choice isfor yours, eitherYou a will difference yourself. discrete deep canal aid or a be impressed. miniature receiver in canal aid. In As an EXCLUSIVE short term both cases theOFFER, aids will Hidden be small SPECIAL andHearing discrete, programmed is and providing eligibleto your specific hearing levels pensioners and veterans and unique personal needs.
CALL NOW to book your FREE hearing assessment and start hearing better again.
FREE CALL
1800 717 717
“*Conditions and eligibility requirements apply under the Commonwealth Hearing Services Voucher System. Offer ends Wednesday April 30. Monday June 30. *Conditions and eligibility requirements apply under the Commonwealth Hearing Services Voucher System. Offer ends Wednesday September 30, 2015.
BLAIRGOWRIE • DROMANA • MORNINGTON • ROSEBUD • SEAFORD • TOORAK Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 9 September 2015
PAGE 3