NEWS DESK
Field of political dreams for Dunkley, Flinders 17 VOTERS bored with a seemingly interminable eight-week federal election campaign can now begin to focus attention on polling day on 2 July after the political runners were confirmed on Friday. The Australian Electoral Commission released the official list of candidates on Friday (10 June). A field of six will contest the seat of Flinders and 11 candidates will battle to win the hotly-contested marginal seat of neighbouring Dunkley. Liberal Environment Minister Greg Hunt holds Flinders by a whopping 11.8 per cent margin so there seems little chance of an upset victory as he faces challengers Carolyn Gleixner (Labor), Willisa Hogarth (Greens), Ben Wild (Animal Justice Party), Yvonne Gentle (Rise Up Australia Party) and independent Shane Lewis. Polling suggests the vote in Dunkley could go down to the wire. Sitting member Bruce Billson, the former Liberal small business minister, decided to retire from politics earlier this year after more than two decades. The affable and popular Mr Billson stepped down after being dropped from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s cabinet when he ousted former PM Tony Abbott. Liberal candidate for Dunkley Chris Crewther faces a fight to retain the seat for his party in the face of a surge in support, according to polls, for Labor candidate Peta Murphy. Mr Billson won the seat with a 5.6 per cent margin in 2013.
Jeanette Swain (Greens), Tim Wilms (Liberal Democrats), Ruth Stanfield (Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party), Michael Rathbone (Family First Party), Sally Baillieu (The Arts Party), Jeff Reaney (Australian Christians), Lin Tregenza (Rise Up Australia Party), Jack Tyson (Animal Justice Party) and independent Joseph Toscano are the nine candidates joining Ms Murphy and Mr Crewther in the battle for Dunkley. Preferences could be crucial in deciding whether the seat is retained by the Liberals or it swings to Labor. Internal Labor Party polling conducted last month suggested Ms Murphy held a 52-48 lead over Mr Crewther after preferences putting the marginal seat in play as a possible Labor gain. The marginal seat of Isaacs – stretching from Mordialloc to parts of Carrum Downs and including parts of Keysborough, Noble Park and Dandenong – is held by Labor MP Mark Dreyfus, the former attorney-general by a marginal 3.9 per cent margin. Just three other candidates have put their hand up to challenge Mr Dreyfus. Liberal candidate Garry Spencer, Greens hopeful Alex Breskin and the Animal Justice Party’s Elizabeth Johnston will face off in Isaacs on 2 July. Neil Walker
Two scuba divers die as MYSTERY surrounds the deaths of two scuba divers near Mornington pier, Friday, but rough seas and strong winds almost certainly contributed to the tragedy. Diving instructor Leonie Hanson, 40, who worked for Harbour Dive Australia, Mornington, and her pupil, a 39-year-old man, of Langwarrin, drowned when they got into difficulties around noon. Witnesses said they heard screams as a desperate Ms Hanson tried to keep her unconscious pupil afloat and lift him onto a ladder on the seaward side of the concrete wall, while being buffeted by large waves. Nearby restaurateur Robert De Santis, who ran to help, told Channel 9 news that a frantic Ms Hanson was struggling to hold onto the man and yelling “hold him”. Mr De Santis climbed down the ladder and into the water
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fully clothed in a desperate rescue attempt. He said the pair had their full diving gear on making them hard to hold on to. He and other rescuers removed the man’s diving gear to push the tank off so they could lift him up while a sinking, and obviously exhausted Ms Hanson, slipped away out of reach. Mr De Santis said the instructor’s sole concern was in saving her pupil. “She was helping as well ... I said 'grab the ladder' because I could see she was getting tired, so I put her on the ladder, held his hand,” he said on Channel 9 news. Witnesses said a boat owner moved in to help as Mr De Santis struggled to help the pair, but Ms Hanson was overwhelmed by exhaustion and had possibly gone into shock when she disappeared.
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Frankston Times 13 June 2016
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