NEWS DESK
Boundary changes ‘best for basketball’ Neil Walker neil@mpnews.com.au A SPORTING group criticised by federal Dunkley Liberal MP Chris Crewther in Parliament earlier this year wants electorate boundaries changed in a move that would put the seat within reach of a Labor Party win at the next federal election. The Frankston & District Basketball Association (FDBA) wrote to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) on 14 May to support a proposed Dunkley electorate boundaries redistribution that would see Dunk-
ley lose Mornington and the north of Baxter in the south to the Flinders electorate but gain Sandhurst in the north from the Isaacs electorate. The FDBA’s stadium is located at council-owned land at Bardia Avenue in Seaford. Association president Gary Emery’s letter to the AEC said: “Frankston basketball’s catchment zone is linked to the municipal boundaries of Frankston City as well as capturing aspects of Mount Eliza. “Frankston basketball encourages that the redistribution is endorsed for the betterment of the sport of basketball in our region.”
Whatever you want to do in later life, start thinking about it now.
The submission to the AEC comes after Mr Crewther made several allegations under parliamentary privilege in Canberra about possible misconduct at the Frankston & District Basketball Association. The FDBA denies the allegations. Basketball Victoria is investigating the allegations. Mr Crewther’s comments were made in Parliament the week after hosting last-ditch talks between the FDBA and Frankston Council in a failed bid to try to resurrect a $12.7 million upgrade of the stadium. Council and the association could not agree on lease terms for an up-
Australians are living longer. And that means there’s a lot more life to enjoy. Whatever you’re looking forward to, whether it’s to keep working, change jobs, start a new business, or just keep healthy, active and connected – the government has programs to assist you. There are also 20,000 extra high level home care packages to help you stay at home and independent for longer. There are lots of ways to live the life you want.
Visit longliveyou.gov.au
Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra. Mornington News 29 May 2018
personal views.” Neighbouring Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Bryan Payne made a 4 May submission opposing the AEC proposed changes (“Electorate change objections mount”, The News 21/5/18). “In particular, we are concerned about the separation of Mount Eliza from the neighbouring township of Mornington,” Cr Payne stated in a letter to the AEC. “Mount Eliza benefits from being part of the same federal electorate as the township of Mornington, which is a major activity centre for Mount Eliza residents”.
Shire changes track on train timetable
longliveyou.gov.au
PAGE 8
graded stadium. Frankston mayor Cr Colin Hampton has also made a recent submission to the AEC supporting Dunkley boundary changes. “As councillor representing the North East Ward of Frankston — encompassing Carrum Downs, Sandhurst, Skye and Langwarrin — I look forward to the communities I represent finally being brought within the same federal electorate.” Cr Hampton, a Labor Party member, stated in his correspondence that “I make this submission in my capacity as a long-term councillor and resident, not as mayor. It reflects my
Continued from Page 1 “I don’t do these media things – it was done before the council changed the officer’s recommendation,” Cr Payne said. “It was not intentional and, as usual, [Cr Gill] has shot off in the wrong direction. The only person introducing politics into this is him. There’s nothing political about it.” Cr Payne said he was a member of the Liberal Party and repeated that Cr Gill “is the only one making a political issue out of it”. “I take offence for him to say it’s a political issue. The media release was done by our communications department.” The report to council on 22 May by Ms Zouzoulas came in the wake of a meeting in Frankston called by Dunkley Liberal MP Chris Crewther attended by the federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities, Paul Fletcher, Committee for Greater Frankston (C4GF) chief executive Ginevra Hosking, Frankston’s mayor Cr Colin Hampton and CEO Dennis Hovenden, Cr Payne, Peninsula Health CEO Felicity Topp, Liberal MP for Hastings Neale Burgess and Liberal candidate for Carrum Donna Bauer. Neither the state Labor MP for Carrum, Sonya Kilkenny or Labor MP for Frankston, Paul Edbrooke, were at the meeting. The electrification of the railway line has become a sensitive political issue as the whole town of Baxter will come within the federal seat of Flinders – held by Liberal Greg Hunt if boundary changes proposed by the Australian Electoral Commission are adopted. Half of Baxter, including the railway station, is now within the seat of Dunkley, held for the Liberals by Mr Crewther. Pollsters say the boundary changes are likely to see Labor win the seat. The C4GF’s $450 million push is to electrify the Baxter line to Langwarrin, where it wants a new station and car parking for 1000 vehicles as well as building a station to service Frankston Hospital and Monash University. The shire’s initial “advocacy paper” made it clear that the shire was upset at being left out of discussions to electrify the railway line to a town within its municipal boundary. Mr Crewther’s meeting appears to recognise the shire – which includes Baxter within its municipal boundary - as a “stakeholder”. The easing of the shire’s demand for an electrified railway to Hastings makes it easier for the state Labor and federal Coalition governments to justify spending $3 million on a business case to electrify the line just to Baxter. However, the shire remains opposed to Baxter being used for the stabling and maintenance of trains. Moving these services out to Baxter will free up land at Frankston as demand on parking there would be reduced if peninsula commuters caught the train at Baxter.