DUNKLEY BY-ELECTION
Candidates target cost of living Brodie Cowburn brodie@mpnews.com.au EARLY voting has begun in the Dunkley by-election. Polling day for the by-election is on 2 March with eight candidates on the ballot - in ballot order they are Nathan Conroy (Liberal), Bronwyn Currie (Animal Justice), Chrysten Abraham (Libertarian), Reem Yunis (Victorian Socialists), Darren Bergwerf (Independent), Alex Breskin (Greens), Heath McKenzie (Australian Democrats), and Jodie Belyea (Labor). Early voting centres have been set up at Lyrebird Community Centre in Carrum Downs, Functions by the Bay in Frankston, and 1st Ranelagh Scout Group in Mount Eliza. They are open from 8.30am to 5.30pm on weekdays (6pm on 1 March), and from 9am to 4pm on Saturday 24 February. The Dunkley by-election was triggered by the death of incumbent MP Peta Murphy who died of metastatic breast cancer in December. Murphy first won the seat for Labor in 2019 and retained it with an increased margin of 6.3 per cent at the 2022 federal election. Before Murphy’s 2019 win, the Liberals had held the seat since 1996. Bruce Billson was the local member for 20 of those years. The News sent questions to all candidates last week about their priorities. All candidates who responded* identified cost of living as one of the most prominent issues facing Dunkley voters.
NATHAN CONROY (Liberal Party)
JODIE BELYEA (Labor Party)
What do you do for work? I have served as the mayor of Frankston City since 2021. How long have you lived in Dunkley? I have lived in Dunkley for six years. My wife, Steffie, was born and raised in Carrum Downs. Why did you decide to run in this by-election? In my time serving the community, I’ve seen first-hand that people are hurting under the Albanese Labor government. I’m passionate about the future of this community and believe I am the best candidate to represent it in federal parliament. What is the most prominent issue facing Dunkley voters? Voters are concerned about the Albanese government’s cost of living crisis, as well as Labor’s cuts to local infrastructure. What local infrastructure projects should be prioritised? Frankston-Baxter Rail Extension, Monterey Reserve Redevelopment in Frankston North, Bruce Park Pavilion in Frankston, Len Phelps Pavilion in Carrum Downs, and the revitalisation of Nepean Highway along with the modernisation of Mount Eliza Secondary College. What specific measures would you take to ease cost of living pressure? Under Labor, Australia’s inflation is higher than any major advanced economy. I’ll fight for - and be part of a team that delivers - responsible
What do you do for work? I founded and run the Women’s Spirit Project, a local not-for-profit that supports local women doing it tough. Over 6 years, we’ve helped empower women overcoming trauma and abuse. How long have you lived in Dunkley? I have lived in Dunkley for more than a decade. I live in Frankston with my husband Dave, our son Flynn who studies at Frankston High School, and we’ve got two dogs and a mortgage. Why did you decide to run in this byelection? I’m running because I love our community, and I want to make a real difference and improve people’s lives. The late Peta Murphy encouraged me to think about public service. Peta and I shared similar values: compassion, fairness and a deep commitment to social justice. My priorities, are easing the cost of living, strengthening Medicare, housing affordability and improving access to fee-free TAFE. What is the most prominent issue facing Dunkley voters? When I’m out doorknocking in the community the top issue raised with me is cost of living. My number one priority is helping locals with the cost of living - and that’s why I’m supportive of tax cuts to every taxpayer in Dunkley. I’ll be a local MP that listens and advocates to make our local community in an even better place.
LIBERAL candidate Nathan Conroy. Picture: Gary Sissons economic and energy policies that lower inflation and take pressure off interest rates. For example, we don’t need the 10,000 new bureaucrats this year Labor are hiring. We need to focus on better service delivery. We also need to back small businesses, rather than burden them with red tape and higher costs - so they can deliver better value for customers and grow our economy.
NO ONE’S UNSINKABLE To all those Unsinkable Guys out there – You might think it’s safe to have a few drinks around water, skip the life jacket when you’re out on the boat or go for a swim without checking the conditions. But statistics prove that 4 out of 5 drownings are men. Just remember that no one’s unsinkable.
UNSINKABLE GUY
RETHINK
TAKING RISKS AROUND WATER
PAGE 10
Mornington News
20 February 2024
What local infrastructure projects should be prioritised? We are delivering investment in local infrastructure - the Chisholm TAFE redevelopment, Hall Road upgrade, and the new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic. Improving our health system, housing affordability, and making it easier for people to get access to TAFE and university, are priorities for me. At age 25, I went to TAFE as a mature aged student to study youth work and community development, it gave me the experience I needed to kick start my career. What specific measures would you take to ease cost of living pressure? I’m a strong supporter of giving tax relief to workers and Labor’s cost of living tax cuts will give every taxpayer in Dunkley a tax cut from 1 July. For instance, a retail worker at the Bayside Centre earning $73,000 a year will get a tax cut of $1,504 – that’s $804 more than under the Liberals. Making prescription medicines cheaper is a practical way we can help older people with the cost of living.
LABOR candidate Jodie Belyea. Picture: Gary Sissons
