The Local Paper - Wednesday, May 4, 2022 - Page 7
www.LocalPaper.com.au
Election Updates Action for vets
■ An Albanese Labor Government will fix the crisis in veterans’ affairs and restore respect to veterans and their families, says McEwen Labor MHR Rob Mitchell. “Labor’s $519 million plan will repair a decade of damage and neglect by refunding and renewing the services veterans and their families count on,” Mr Mitchell said. “Presently, veterans are being forced to wait up to 18 months for their claims to be processed by Veterans Affairs. “This backlog is unacceptable. Our veterans deserve so much better than this. “This is on top of the fact that veterans were promised another $90 million from this Government in the budget but it only turned out to be $23 million, once again showing how the Morrison Government is all about the announcement but when it comes to delivery, the Prime Minister goes missing,” Mr Mitchell said.
Naked politics
■ Reason Party candidate Yolanda Vega has participated in the Passion. Pride. Protest, an exhibition featuring young female Victorian artists’ works, including nudes in wild colours . According to Reason Party publicity, Ms Vega is a woman whose CV paints a powerful portrait itself. “Equality of opportunity in electoral politics includes being able to finance a campaign. Passion. Pride. Protest is an atypical fundraising event. The walls of the Reason Australia Party headquarters will be graced by images of naked bodies. “The human body is a beautiful thing. Politicians are constantly talking about the economy, but with scant sense of humanity. The economy is nothing without people; there can be no prosperous high streets without healthy backstreets,” Ms Vega said. Vega and Reason Party Leader, Fiona Patten, a civil libertarian Parliamentarian, believe the removal of cultural, political, and economic barriers still faced by women is central to equality of opportunity. “Breaking barriers for women helps our entire population, boosting productivity, economic growth, family flexibility and individual liberty,” said Ms Patten. Ms Vega says she has fought for women’s workplace, economic, and social rights as a business group leader and an academic. Ms Patten, Ms Vega and the Reason Party say they are leading on reforms for women and families. They are calling for fully publicly funded universal childcare and the phased integration of early childhood education with schools, the first such policy in Australia.
Homelessness fear
■ Homelessness is likely to worsen after the Australian Federal Election on May 21 as investors have been holding off on development applications, says Inspire Realty founder/ property advisor Colin Lee. He says some investors and developers were being cautious holding off on developments until after the election results were announced. “Every developer I have spoken with nationally in the last three weeks has been waiting and seeing what the new government will put into place on negative gearing,” Mr Lee said. “Some of these developers are waiting to spend millions of dollars from small-time developers doing four to five townhouses to high rise unit developments. They want assurity.” He said after the election, this would lead to increased rental and sales prices as demand would continue to outstrip supply. “We will be even worse off because of this,” Mr Lee said. “Properties will not go down. People need a place to live and property is in high demand from renters and buyers.” The national rental vacancy rate fell to 1 per cent in March, halving year-on-year, with all capital cities now operating in a landlord’s market, Domain’s latest Rental Vacancy Rate report found.
AustraliaVotes
UAP candidate arrested
■ Clive Palmer’s candidate for Higgins in the Federal Election, Ingram Spencer, was arrested late last week for using a carriage service to menace. He has spent time behind bars after an allegation was lodged by another person to Police. The next Court hearing is scheduled for tomorrow (Thu., May 5). Mr Spencer is standing for the seat of Higgins which includes areas including Armadale, Ashburton, Carnegie, Glen Iris, Kooyong, Malvern, Malvern East, Murrumbeena, Ormond, Prahran, South Yarra, Toorak and Windsor. Mr Spencer had earlier been alleged to demonstrate “aggressive behaviour” in a disturbance at an Australian Electorial Office property, in which he confronted Liberal MP Katie Allen. The United Australia Party website said of its candidate: “Born in the UK with a conservative upbringing, Ingram has since called Australia home for the last decade. He is a father of three sons, is a keen triathlete, a cyber security expert and currently Director in a major accounting firm in Data Trust and Privacy. “I am well read, I follow true news sources and investigative journalists. I am a fighter, very articulate, able to defend and strategically win arguments,” Mr Spencer is quoted to say.
● Ingram Spencer, UAP, Higgins
Vandal targets Liberal
● Defaced sign of Zoe McKenzie, Liberal.
■ Vile graffiti has been painted on campaign signs for Zoe McKenzie, the Liberal candidate for Flinders. A corflute sign at Rosebud, and Ms McKenzie’s vehicle at Sorrento, were attacked late last week. Ms McKenzie was said to be devastated after her election signs and car were targeted by “disgraceful” graffiti, which she says is part of an “orchestrated campaign”. Ms McKenzie – who replaced former Health Minister Greg Hunt as Liberal candidate - said the attacks amounted to property damage and threatening attacks. Local political observers said there did not appear to be similar attacks on local candidates from other political parties. Local Police on the Mornington Peninsula are said to be investigating.
Council removes signs ■ Darebin Council has removed United Australia Party signs from the Bell St overpass in Preston, which is public property. The signs were promoting a vote for the UAP in the Cooper electorate, where that party’s candidate is Adam La Rosa. Paras Pappas, a campaign worker for Mr La Rosa, said UAP corflutes in public areas within the Cooper electorate had either been taken down within a 24 hour period or vandalised. “Every attempt has been made to remove these signs from public viewing, whilst other corflutes (Labor, Liberal, Greens and Socialists) remain untouched. “Needless to say, UAP volunteers will not succumb to the cancel culture currently dominating this electorate - replacing corflutes becoming a daily task. “In retrospect, we can only thank the culprits for bringing further attention to UAP, for strengthening our group of volunteers to continue our collective vision towards awareness, education, change and freedom, with intense passion and commitment. “Is the removal of these corflutes an orchestrated plan from opposition or do we have lone riders out there opposing freedom of choice?”
Campaign Latest Senate choices
■ The parties on the ballot paper for the Senate in Victoria this year are: A. REASONAUSTRALIA B. Unendorsed Independents C.AUSTRALIAN DEMOCRATS D. LIBERAL/NATIONALS E. LEGALISE CANNABISAUSTRALIA F. SUSTAINABLE AUSTRALIA – Stop Over-development / Corruption G.AUSTRALIANVALUES PARTY H. DERRYN HINCH’S JUSTICE PARTY I.ANIMAL JUSTICE PARTY J.AUSTRALIAN PROGRESSIVES K. AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY L. UNITEDAUSTRALIAPARTY M. SOCIALISTALLIANCE N.AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION PARTY O.SHOOTERS,FARMERSANDFARMERS PARTY P. PAULINE HANSON’S ONE NATION Q. CITIZENS’PARTY R. Unendorsed Independents S. FUSION : Science, Pirate, Secular, Climate Emergency T. Unendorsed Independent U. THE GREENS V. THE GREATAUSTRALIAN PARTY W. LIBERALDEMOCRATS X. INFORMED MEDICAL OPTIONS PARTY Y. Unendorsed Independent Z. VICTORIAN SOCIALISTS AA. Ungrouped independents 1 BB. Ungrouped independents 2
Unauthorised ads
■ Paras Pappas, campaign worker for the United Australia Party (see report this page) says that close to 100 corflutes have been desecrated or removed in the Cooper electorate. “If free speech is respected, why are UAP corflutes targeted so viciously?” The Local Paper asked Ms Pappas if the Cooper campaign for Adam La Rosa has permission to erect signs on public property. She confirmed that no permission has been obtained. Ms Pappas said: “Last week, it was reported that a person was arrested for removing UAP corflutes after he live-streamed himself committing these actions. “What has become of the arrest and why has mainstream media minimised this issue, deflecting from what UAP stand for, and even humouring his interview? “Could this be an attempt to sabotage public curiosity and support of minor parties? For the last two years, mainstream media has used fear propaganda ad nauseum - any contrary information is certainly a threat to the government's narrative for mass compliance and no-choice policies. “The writing is on the wall- desperate attempts to minimise public awareness of freedom fighting parties such as UAP by silencing their advocates and removing their merchandise from public attention. “In my opinion, verified information of the ongoing attack of UAP merchandise is worthy of public recognition as an act of antidemocracy? “Is this particular story not worthy of opposition leaders publicly condemning such actions? Is this story not worthy of Police warning the public again against such acts of violence? Or will serious investigation only be reserved for those that follow the current government narrative?” Ms Pappas said.
Postal voting time
● Adam La Rosa, UAP candidate
■ Electors are eligible to apply for a postal vote if they are unable to get to a polling place on election day. The Australian Electoral Commission isd encouraging people to apply as soon as they know they are eligible. The AEC cannot send voting packs until the ballot papers have been printed. The earliest the AEC can send out packs was April 26. “If you do not apply as soon as possible, you may have to choose an alternative way to vote. If you are a registered general postal voter and your postal address has changed or you have been affected by events such as natural disasters, you can update your postal address online,” said an AEC representative.
