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Peninsula misunderstood in boundary changes plan By David Gill* HAVING one person in charge of boundaries and names for wards on the Mornington Peninsula leads to the possibility of the first political gerrymander in Australian history. The electoral structure review panel which is about to announce details of 11 wards on the peninsula was appointed by and is accountable only to the Local Government Minister, Melissa Horne. The new wards will replace the six existing wards and be in place for the October council elections. There is no apparent way of splitting the shire into 11 wards that improves the existing boundaries in the best interests of the general community, including small businesses and farmers. The naming of wards should be put on hold until properly investigated. I object to the process but understand that the minister moved the independent powers away from the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) onto an appointed panel and that the minister will make all final decisions without the usual early or acceptable community consultation. The panel is answerable only to the minister not to the community. Feedback is basically limited to several choices made by the panel on important shire ward boundary and naming decisions in a regional municipality unsuited to the newly mandated (with no consultation) one
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Mornington News
16 January 2024
councillor wards. The lack of thought put into naming the 11 wards disrespects the communities of the peninsula’s 42 towns and villages. The VEC has previously stated that single councillor wards are unsuitable for council’s like Mornington Peninsula. The panel is also contemplating splitting areas to have large population centres join with sparsely populated rural areas. This would create a disaster for these mainly farming areas - 70 per cent of the shire is in the green wedge zone - as the likelihood of a rural representative being elected in such a population imbalance would prove too difficult for most candidates, leaving the rural sector unrepresented. A councillor elected by large town populations would find it difficult to represent a small minority when prioritising services and projects, and in understanding rural issues. The panel has clearly not understood the peninsula and the cultural, demographic and geographical issues when naming wards in this forced and rushed exercise. The recommendations are crude and lack careful consideration and ignore democratic traditions and laws of fair distribution including the plus or minus 10 per cent "maximum" average variation in the number of voters in each ward. The naming of wards, which are
likely to remain for many years, received little consideration and the government should be ashamed that consultation was non-existent. The panel recognises that proper examination was not possible. Consideration of First Nations language names has been shelved, apart from several off-handed suggestions with no evidence provided of the historic or other meanings of the words, except if they were used by European pioneers. Altogether this is a cheap and nasty outcome based on political engineering to do with metropolitan councils in which Mornington Peninsula Shire is unfortunately caught up, as we are designated metro not rural by the state government. None of the choices for one councillor ward boundaries should be used but, as they are the options in the 11 ward scenario, then the option with least change keeps some integrity of mutual interest for our segmented communities. There is no apparent way of splitting the shire into 11 wards that improves the existing boundaries in the best interests of the general community, including small businesses and farmers. The naming of wards should be put on hold until properly investigated. * David Gill represents Red Hill Ward on Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, one of three single-councillor wards.
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.
DUNKLEY candidate Jodie Belyea and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Frankston last week. Picture: Supplied 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
