Casting a line for Mornington Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au FISHING broadcaster, writer, tackle shop owner and Futurefish Foundation director David Kramer says he might seek Labor Party pre-selection for the state seat of Mornington “if someone taps me on the shoulder … and I’m in the mood”. Labor is expected to wait until after mid-year before choosing its candidate for the seat held by Liberal David Morris for the past 16 years. Mr Morris missed out on being reendorsed by the Liberal Party which chose Chris Crewther as its candidate. Mr Crewther held the federal seat of Dunkley for one term (2016-2019) after it had been held by former minister Bruce Billson for the previous 20 years. Mr Crewther lost the seat in 2019 to Labor’s Peta Murphy. Mr Kramer, who missed out to Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor Paul Mercurio on being Labor’s candidate for Hastings, said on Thursday that he was unsure if he would seek pre-selection for Mornington. “I did put my hand up for Hastings because no one else had, although I had never before been a member of any political party. If someone tapped me on the shoulder [for Mornington] I’d have to have a look,” he said. Mr Kramer, who has a reputation for being close to the premier, Daniel Andrews, said he had “never taken him out in my boat fishing”. “I work on fishing policy for the government and get labelled [as the premier’s fishing mate] for that. I’ve
Pictures: Gary Sissons
DAVID Kramer may be in the running to be the Labor Party’s candidate for the state seat of Mornington at the November election. Picture: Supplied never taken Daniel Andrews fishing in my life, but I do meet with him.” Mr Kramer said meetings were necessary “because $35 million has been put into fishing by the government”. “I’m proud to have never been a member [of any political party] before. But I don’t mind the rumours,” he said. “One day I may be driven into politics and, if Mornington comes around and I’m in the mood, [but] I’m pretty relaxed about it. “To me, Labor is in the best position to make Victoria better and I think it
has a landslide win ahead of it [at the November election]. Mr Kramer said he was “not a fan” of celebrities being endorsed as candidates. “My passion is about making a difference and Mornington is [now] considered winnable. “Imagine if Labor held all three state seats on the peninsula? It would get a fair bit of attention [from a reelected Labor government]. “These seats [Mornington, Hastings and Nepean] have to be hard fought this time.”
Protest requires eyes off the road MEMBERS of the Liberal Democrats and anti-vaccine mandate group “freedom fighters” were waving placards on the Peninsula Link’s Golf Links’ Road overpass at Baxter on Friday in what they called a fight for “choice”. It is unclear whether the group got the attention its members had hoped for, but they held their placards to catch the eyes of passing Melbournebound drivers. Meanwhile, vehicles left from the BP service station at Baxter to join the Convoy to Canberra, also opposing
mandated vaccines. Organisers had claimed 300 vehicles would be in the convoy, but the actual number could be counted on two hands with some fingers to spare. The group’s Facebook post said it wanted to provide support and exposure for the Liberal Democrats, a political party that believes vaccinations should be voluntary. None of the convoy drivers or placard holders wanted their names mentioned in The News. Keith Platt
Don’t travel to high risk areas on Extreme Fire Danger Rating days. If you plan to travel through Victoria, during fire season, it’s important to check the Fire Danger Rating every day. If the rating is Extreme or above, avoid travelling to high risk areas, including to cities and towns.
Plan. Act. Survive. Go to emergency.vic.gov.au
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Southern Peninsula News
16 February 2022
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