NEWS DESK
Anger over MP’s roll in shire’s election Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au NEPEAN MP Chris Brayne has involved himself in the October Mornington Peninsula Shire Council elections by listing several candidates on his Facebook page. In doing so, he has angered several sitting councillors and is in line to be admonished by the shire for using its logo. Amanda Sapolu, the shire’s head of governance and legal, said the shire logo - prominently reproduced on Mr Brayne’s Facebook page - is trademark-protected corporate intellectual property. “It should only be used for council endorsed business and should not be used without permis-
sion,” Ms Sapolu told The News. “It should not be used by candidates in their election campaigns.” Six the shire 11 councillors have announced they will not be seeking re-election at the Saturday 24 October elections. A big field of candidates is expected to contest the elections, although the exact number will not be known until the close of nominations on Tuesday 22 September. Voting will be done by post and because of the COVID-19 restrictions candidates will have few chances to meet voters. A minimum of six new faces on the new council could lead to some decisions or policies of the existing council being overturned or amended. Of particular interest will be the stance taken
by the future council towards Tyabb airfield and the contentious, and costly, Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearings scheduled for early next year. Councillors who have said they will seek reelection are Kate Roper (Cerberus Ward), David Gill (Red Hill), Hugh Fraser (Nepean) and Antonella Celi and Simon Brooks (Seawinds). On his Facebook page Mr Brayne - a first term Labor MP - says the upcoming elections will provide “the opportunity to vote for some new councillors”. “We have some really good people who have decided to put their hands up to run this year.” Mr Brayne then urges his followers to “feel free to give their [Facebook] pages a like and ask them some questions”.
OFFICIAL MEDICAL ADVICE
The candidates listed by Mr Brayne are Jared Tipping, who will be opposing Crs Celi and Brooks in Seawinds Ward; Melissa Goffin and Claire Thorn, who will stand against Cr Gill in Red Hill; Sarah Race, who will stand for the twocouncillor ward of Nepean where Cr Bryan Payne is not seeking re-election and Cr Hugh Fraser is. Cr Gill said it was “very unusual [for an MP] to publicly select some candidates as suitable for election, especially on the peninsula”. He said it was “cheeky and illegal to use the shire logo”. Cr Gill said correspondence with other councillors showed they were angered by Mr Brayne’s action. “One councillor said he should have known better and another felt for the new candidates being dragged into it.” In reply to a comment on his Facebook page, Mr Brayne said the candidates he mentioned were not “Labor” but “only some people who I’ve gotten to know who I feel comfortable sharing”. He said there were “likely to be more” but listing them on his Facebook page “is in no way indicative of whether they are Liberal or Labor”. Keryn Maddicks Rivett posted that she would be “excited to replace one or two [councillors] who are in at the moment - we need new blood who are there for more than the functions they can attend”.
Don’t risk it. Always follow the health advice. High tea for free: The Crib Point Community House goodie bag.
Seniors can take high tea at home It’s up to all of us to keep each other safe. You must continue to practise good hygiene, physical distancing, and if you’re even slightly unwell, get tested and stay at home. Don’t risk it. The sooner we all do it, the sooner we’ll get through it. Have the App Visit australia.gov.au
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Western Port News
2 September 2020
CRIB Point Community House’s annual free high tea for seniors cannot be held this year because of coronavirus. Instead, manager Mary Budd said, seniors could participate at home in a virtual High Tea, 10.30am, Monday 12 October. “Although we are unable to have it this year we didn’t want our seniors to miss out,” Ms Budd said. “So, we are making up goodie bags full of everything you need to have your own high tea at home to share with your other half, or maybe invite a friend, if the pandemic regulations allow.” The bags will include tea and coffee sachets, biscuits and cake and “extra surprises” donated by local businesses. The bags will be limited to one a household and to those living in the Western Port area. Anyone wanting to join in the morning tea and receive a goodie bag can register by calling 5983 9888 or emailing info@cpch.org.au to receive the link via email or text. Registrations close Friday 18 September. Bags can be picked up from the community house between 5 and 9 October and Ms Budd said she may be able to deliver some. “Even if you miss out on a goodie bag we’d love you to join us for the virtual high tea,” she said.