LETTERS
Letters - 300 words maximum and including full name, address and contact number - can be sent to The News, PO Box 588, Hastings 3915 or emailed to: team@mpnews.com.au
Candidate 'inspired' by Peta Murphy - PM BY ANTHONY ALBANESE* This week I was back in Frankston to ask Jodie Belyea to be Labor’s candidate for Dunkley. Jodie is a local Frankston mum who has put her hand up after the late Peta Murphy’s passing. I know that for many of us, not just in the Labor family, but in the local community, the loss of Peta Murphy has been devastating. It meant a lot that Rod, Peta’s husband, joined us on Thursday at the Frankston Bowling Club to help launch Jodie’s campaign. Because of Peta’s work, Jodie Belyea was inspired to join the Labor Party. I’m proud that Jodie is working hard to continue Peta’s legacy. Peta Murphy was a fighter. Peta fought for this community every day and I know Jodie Belyea will too.Because this community deserves a strong, local voice. Jodie met Peta through her work for a not-forprofit organisation that supports local women doing it tough. I know Jodie will build on Peta’s legacy. Jodie will be a strong local voice for Dunkley and part of a government that is working every day to make lives better. We’re delivering responsible cost of living relief, with support for families, including cheaper child care, cheaper medicines, electricity bill relief, and making it cheaper and easier to see a doctor. My team has made it easier to see a doctor, with 19 more GPs now working in Dunkley We’ve taken the load off the local emergency department at Frankston hospital, with the opening of the Frankston Urgent Care Clinic. Already, 11,000 patients have been through its doors. And there are thousands of families paying less for their child care because of our cheaper child care initiative. Jodie studied and worked at Chisholm TAFE and community organisations like Anglicare. She’ll be part of a Government that is making record investments in vocational education and TAFE, so that locals can get the skills they need
to get ahead and provide for their loved ones. Jodie also knows we’re working hard to make sure people can find a home of their own. Since the election, the Home Guarantee Scheme has helped more than 3,500 people in Melbourne’s south east and over 1,000 people in Mornington Peninsula into a home of their own. So, in the coming weeks, you’ll see Jodie Belyea out and about. Take the opportunity to have a chat with Jodie and hear a bit more about why she’s put her hand up to be the next Member for Dunkley and the newest member of my government. *Anthony Albanese is the Prime Minister of Australia
Jekyll and Hyde Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors are being shown as Jekyll and Hyde. On the one hand, local residents were kept in the dark about Warner Brothers’ plans to stage Harry Potter light shows in our beloved wildlife sanctuary at The Briars because councillors signed non-disclosure agreements (NDA). There was a complete lack of transparency and no community consultation (Thumbs down for Potter Performance, The News 9/1/24). On the other hand, the shire has plans for an accessible online “transparency and integrity hub” (All clear for transparency, The News 9/1/24). The shenanigans in council would make a good script for the next season of ABC’s Utopia. The strong local backlash towards staging the Harry Potter event in a precious wildlife sanctuary resulted in more than 16,000 people signing a change.org petition within a fortnight. As the opposition to this foolhardy decision grows, the councillors will be forced to explain not only why they signed an NDA but also why the event was kept top secret until Warner Brothers had begun selling tickets. Sarah Russell, Mount Martha
Disappointing response
DUNKLEY candidate Jodie Belyea and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Frankston last week. Picture: Supplied
The veto of the Western Port wind terminal project by the federal government is disappointing but not the end of the world. Modifications can be made to make the project environmentally acceptable. Equally disappointing, and predictable, was the Liberal Party response. Opposition spokesperson Jonathan Duniam, taking his cues from Mr No, Dutton, claims that “you can’t trust Labor to get energy policy right”. Senator Duniam has been in parliament long enough to know that the Coalition government, of which he was a member, achieved absolutely nothing in energy policy in its nine years of government, so it is hypocritical of him to criticise Labor for actually having plans whilst having the temerity of trying to protect the environment at the same time. Do us a favour Senator Duniam, instead of the childish carping, how about outlining the Coali-
Plant Sale $5.95 NANDINA MOONBAY
Frankston Times
16 January 2024
It is pleasing that federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek has intervened to protect the Ramsar wetlands of Western Port from new development (Federal veto a blow to terminal plans, The News 13/1/24). However, the Victorian government’s commitment “to overturning the federal veto” is disappointing. Western Port’s wetlands have been under siege from energy projects in recent times, and locals are weary from defending them. The proposed AGL gas import terminal was stopped in 2021 by then planning minister Richard Wynne on environmental grounds and the latest project is no different. The same is true of the ridiculous coal to hydrogen project which also proposes to export from Western Port. Reporting by The News on these projects has been consistent and influential over the years, although the intervention of the Coalition environment minister Sussan Ley was not forthcoming. Australia cannot ignore its offshore wind potential. The global wind atlas shows that we have some of the strongest and most reliable offshore wind in the world. Ray Peck, Hawthorn
Candidate’s views The Dunkley by-election has begun with the announcement of the Labor Party’s candidate, Jodie Belyea. Of course she commits herself to solving the cost of living crisis, heath and Medicare and social housing. But she must tell the people of Dunkley why the Albanese government has been completely absorbed by the Voice to Parliament referendum and not the cost of living and housing shortage which landlords are taking full advantage of and increasing their rents to make bigger profits. I await her policy on Australia Day being held on 26 January. Russell Morse, Karingal
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tion’s comprehensive plan for our energy future, or do you need another nine years to come up with something? Dr Ross Hudson, Mount Martha
Phone: 5977 8912
