NEWS DESK
State election feature: Paul Edbrooke - Labor
Picture: Gary Sissons
WHAT was your job prior to entering politics? “I was a professional firefighter based at Frankston, and prior to that a teacher and I taught in many Frankston schools. As a firefighter, there is no passing the buck, you have to get the job done, and I take that same attitude into my role as Frankston’s representative.” Why did you decide to get into politics? “I have dedicated my working life to helping my community and the only better way to serve the community as a firefighter is as its state representative and delivering for Frankston. I think there is no better preparation for a state or federal representative than to work at the coalface of some of our communities most difficult challenges like the Black Saturday bushfires, car accidents and fires.” What is the number one issue facing your electorate? “Overall, previously not getting our fair share, which we have changed. Access to services or lack of services. For example housing, mental health services, specialised services for our community most vulnerable.” What will you do to fix/improve it? “Increasing the level of opportunity for people in Frankston to get the skills they need to get the jobs they want, access to facilities and services for all members of the community so they can get a fair go.” What are your top priorities for funding in Frankston? “We have committed to build the largest redevelopment of a suburban hospital in Victoria’s history with new services, more wards, more beds, two floors of dedicated mental health services meaning more resources at Frankston, less travelling to other hospitals in the city. For too long Frankston has been neglected that’s why we are committed to providing access to world class health services, free TAFE, upgrading and providing new sporting facilities, delivering additional funding for every school
in Frankston including major infrastructure projects at 10 local schools. Ensuring everyone from the youngest to the oldest community members all receive a fair go in Frankston.” What are your biggest achievements of your last term? “Certainly rebuilding the face of Frankston and the gateway to the peninsula was a historic moment in our history. The redeveloped Young St looks amazing and the new iconic Frankston station is a grand, memorable entrance to our community. Combine that with a 14% decrease in crime in the year up to March this year and we are making history in Frankston by building a positive future for generations of our community to come.” What will you get done in your first 100 days of office? “You’ll see more of the same, non stop work ethic to keep building Frankston, providing for my community, delivering early works for the hospital redevelopment, moving forward on the Jubilee Park sports project and the many other projects including criminalizing wage theft and industrial manslaughter because having a job should mean you get paid and come home safe.” What would be your simple message to voters before election day? “I have ensured that a Labor government has done everything we said we would do for our community and more over the past four years and over the next four, if given the opportunity, I will do the same. Cranes in the sky, shovels in the ground, boots in the mud, and boom gates in the bin. We are talking about local jobs using locally trained skills and using local materials. “My message to voters is fairly simple, you have told me you wanted more resources for hospitals, schools, public transport and more jobs in our community. You’ve seen what I’ve done in the past four years in Frankston, wait until you see the next four.”
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Frankston Times
20 November 2018