NEWS DESK
Sky rail an election Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au STATE political issues in Isaacs have dominated the lead up to this weekend’s federal election with Labor MP Mark Dreyfus hoping to see off a second challenge from Liberal hopeful Garry Spencer. Cash has been splashed by both major political parties with sports clubs and community groups set to benefit but the spectre of sky rail has loomed large in Kingston. Mr Dreyfus saw his margin cut from 10.4 per cent to 3.9 per cent at the 2013 federal election but he showed no signs of concern about his electoral chances on 2 July when The News visited his office to speak to him about the election subjects that matter to Isaacs voters. He revealed Labor has conducted no internal polling in the seat. National pollsters have focused on neighbouring Dunkley where Labor’s Peta Murphy is closing in on a potential upset win over Liberal candidate Chris Crewther after the political retirement of small business minister Bruce Billson. Mr Dreyfus, Labor’s shadow attorney-general and spokesman for the arts admitted there has been “a certain amount of weariness” in the Isaacs electorate over a marathon eight-week election campaign triggered by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s double dissolution call but he believed voters will tune in as election day nears. “I’ve never accepted that there’s apathy on the part of Australians,” he said. “I think people care about their system of government, they care about how they’re governed and they certainly pay attention at the time they’re called on to cast their vote.” The possibility of elevated rail, dubbed sky rail, along parts of the Frankston line has galvanised
community groups to voice disapproval about any rail over road solution to remove level crossings. Mr Dreyfus is in the crosshairs of community anger despite the level crossings removal project being a Labor state government plan. “I’ve been listening to the concerns expressed locally and I’ve been talking to state government ministers and (State Transport Minister) Jacinta Allan. “I’ve been appalled at the lies and misinformation spread by the Liberal candidate who is actually showing himself as being unfit to be a member of Parliament by the ways he is spreading lies and misinformation.” Mr Spencer, for his part, is enjoying a second crack at trying to unseat Mr Dreyfus in Isaacs having whittled down his margin in 2013. “There was unfinished business. We got a swing of 6.5 per cent last. The job’s not over. I’m here to finish the job,” the long-time Mentone resident told The News. Any prospect of elevated rail has clearly caused angst in the community, Mr Spencer said. “The community does not want elevated rail of any description. The community wants the safer, less intrusive rail under road solution. “Labor knows that. If Labor were going to do rail under road they would have said so months ago. “Labor will watch results on polling booths along the rail line - key areas that determine state elections. If there’s a strong vote against Labor they’ll know they’ll lose the next State election if they don’t dump sky rail. “Labor’s had the seat for 20 years, Mark Dreyfus has had it for nine. He’s never lived in the area. He’s out of touch and he’s a careerist with a great job in Canberra. He’s been the Attorney-General so he’s achieved his objective. He was parachuted in here over a very popular lady member. She was sacked to make a job for him.”
Mark Dreyfus
In 2007 Mr Dreyfus ousted sitting Labor Isaacs member Ann Corcoran thanks to Labor Party selection committee support. Mr Dreyfus, a barrister appointed Queen’s Counsel, and one of 12 federal politicians nationwide who does not live within electorate boundaries, says voters will look at his record as an MP when casting their vote. “I’d point to my record of service to this community. I have had no complaints about the level of service I’ve provided to, what is after all, a large part of south east Melbourne. It’s a big metropolitan electorate. “I’d like to think I’ve represented every part of the electorate more than adequately.” Mr Spencer, a defence force veteran of 20 years, says it is “time for a change”. “Labor in Isaacs takes the people for granted. I would encourage people to make their vote work for them the way their Member in Parliament
should be working for them.” Mr Dreyfus nominates health and education as the issues high on voters’ minds. “People are very conscious that our local schools’ funding, if the Coalition continues in government, is going to be cut.” The examples of Parkdale Secondary will losing more than $1 million in funding, Mordialloc Secondary missing out on $500,000 and Mentone Girls Secondary facing a $1 million funding shortfall under a re-elected Coalition government are mentioned by Mr Dreyfus. Primary schools will also lose out according to the MP. “About $37 billion is being cut from the education budget by this government,” Mr Dreyfus said. As for health, he says people are concerned about rising medical bills. He says the continued Medicare rebate freeze on indexation “is a GP tax by stealth”. “It will certainly mean a decrease in the number of clinics and doctors offering bulk billing and will lead to charges. Doctors cannot continue to absorb a reduction of their income for this length of time. The AMA [Australian Medical Asssociation] has been talking about this for many years.” “Bulk billing is a key part of our universal health care scheme. There is no confidence that the Coalition has the best interests of Medicare at heart. “Labor will end the freeze on indexation.” Mr Spencer accused Labor of running “a scare campaign” on Medicare. “We’ve had the Prime Minister come out and make very definitive statements about not touching Medicare. In fact, we’re putting $4 billion into Medicare over the next four years. Labor persists in this lunacy … of making it one of their key flagflying issues.” He did concede some voters “may be” spooked
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www.colelliott.com.au 29 June 2016
Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News