NEWS DESK
Exit Gas, a performance protest
Replacing Fraser THE Victorian Electoral Commission will conduct a countback of votes on Tuesday 13 April to fill the vacancy on Mornington Peninsula Shire Council caused by the resignation of Hugh Fraser. Mr Fraser was reelected last November ad his position will be filled by one of five candidates who unsuccessfully stood against him in Nepean Ward (“Fraser bows out after ‘differences’ with CEO” The News 15/3/21). The five candidates in the running are Susan Bissinger, Mechelle Cheers, Mark Davis, Simon Mulvany and Gary Naughton. The VEC says the vacancy will be filled by a countback of all formal votes from the 2020 election, rather than through a by-election. “The countback is based on the proportional representation method of counting,” election manager Fran Lombardi said. “The candidate who achieves the quota will be elected. If no participating candidate achieves the quota, the candidate with the highest number of countback votes will be elected.” The countback will be held online via Cisco Webex. A link to the countback will be made available on the VEC website from 9.30 am on Tuesday 13 April at www.vec.vic.gov.au/ Scrutineers and interested parties can attend the countback and the result will be published online at vec.vic.gov.au and in The News. MEANWHILE, the VEC this week starts sending out $83 infringement notices to eligible voters who did not vote in the November 2020 municipal elections. The notices will be sent to those who either failed to respond to the earlier apparent failure to vote notice or did not provide an acceptable reason for not voting. Anyone receiving an infringement notice must respond within 35 days – by either paying the fine, requesting an internal review, or applying to go to court. Anyone unsure of their position can call 1300 551 575 or visit vec.vic.gov.au/voting/fines-andreviews
Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au THE latest performance protest against AGL’s plans for a gas import terminal at Crib Point was staged on Monday last week (22 March) with a troupe dressed as sybils, or female prophets from ancient Greece. Demonstrating their opposition to the plan now in the hands of the state government, the Sybil Disobedients caught a bus from Bittern to Docklands, Melbourne saying they represented “thousands of concerned ordinary people living on the Mornington Peninsula and Victorian regional towns who want our governments to recognise that we are in a climate emergency”. The 12 Sybils (men and women) acted out a rehearsed performance - Exit Gas - as part of a larger “autumn week” demonstration by Extinction Rebellion Australia. Kerri McCafferty, a Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor and spokesperson for the Westernport XR group, said the demonstration was a “most wonderful opportunity … to lead change and say no to gas”. “Our government could show all Victorians how we can support new clean energy generation and lower our carbon emissions, just like we see happening overseas,” Cr McCafferty, who narrated the Sybils’ performance and led the troupe around the Docklands concourse, said. The Docklands protest came one week after Cr McCafferty joined the 500-strong March 4 Justice at Rosebud, along with the mayor Cr Despi O’Connor and deputy mayor Cr Sarah Race (“The long march that united a nation” The News 23/3/21). The shire has also voiced its opposition to AGL’s gas import terminal and other performance-type demonstrations have included protesters dressed as angels standing among
WESTERNPORT Extinction Rebellion group, the Sybil Disobedients, perform their anti-AGL gas terminal protest at Docklands. Picture: Julian Meehan Western Port’s mangroves and wetsuits being worn on the steps of parliament house (“Mud no obstacle for angels’ fear of tread” The News 23/2/21, “Anti-gas protesters fear Western Port wipeout” 16/3/21). The Sybil Disobedients say giving AGL the go ahead to import liquified natural gas (LNG) would “further entrench the state’s reliance on polluting carbon-based energy instead of back-
ing emerging, renewable energy”. “… We are placing more unnecessary strain on our rapidly warming planet when we don’t need to,” Cr McCafferty said. “If nothing else, we have learnt in the last 12 months that we do not live and act in isolation. What we do affects us all. “We are COVID-weary, but our passion and determination remain strong.”
Bus times are changing From Sunday 11 April, we’re updating bus timetables to keep you better connected with the new train times. There will be new times for the following routes in your area: Route 760
Cranbourne - Seaford
Route 780
Frankston - Carrum
Route 770
Frankston - Karingal
Route 781
Frankston - Mt Martha
Route 771
Frankston - Langwarrin
Route 782
Frankston - Flinders
Route 772
Frankston - Eliza Heights
Route 783
Frankston - Hastings
Route 773
Frankston - Frankston South
Route 784
Frankston - Osborne
Route 774
rankston - Delacombe Park
Route 785
Frankston - Mornington East
Route 775
Frankston - Lakewood
Route 788
Frankston - Portsea
Route 776
Frankston - Pearcedale
Route 832
Frankston - Carrum Downs
Route 777
Karingal Hub SC - McClelland Drive
Route 833
Frankston Station - Carrum Station
Route 778
ananook - Carrum Downs
Route 857
Dandenong - Chelsea
Route 779
Frankston - Belverdere
Route 858
Edithvale - Aspendale Gardens
PTVH5341/21
To view your new timetable visit ptv.vic.gov.au/timetables
Department of Transport
Authorised by the Department of Transport, 1 Spring Street, Melbourne
Southern Peninsula News
31 March 2021
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