General News
9 November, 2022
Candidate aims for change
LABOR candidate Kylie Gaston will make a push to flip the South West Coast electorate for the first time in its two-decade history.
LABOR candidate Kylie Gaston will make a push to flip the South West Coast electorate for the first time in its two-decade history.
South West Coast, which Terang and Noorat will be voting in following changes to Victorian electoral boundaries, has been a Liberal stronghold since its 2002 inception.
But in 2018 Mrs Gaston came within 1900 votes of flipping the electorate, with Liberal incumbent Roma Britnell narrowly retaining the seat 52.31 per cent to 47.69 per cent after preference distribution following a swing of more than 7.5 per cent against.
The newest additions to the South West Coast are shaping the electorate for another close finish.
The Liberals have lost ground in larger hubs such as Warrnambool during recent federal and state elections, but the addition of traditionally Liberal-leaning voters in Terang and Noorat may prove the difference in retaining the seat.
Knowing the importance of newer voters to the South West Coast, Mrs Gaston recently spent four consecutive weekends going door-to-door in Terang to make her pitch.
“It’s been really interesting door-knocking Terang,” she said.
“I’ve found people are quite kind and open minded. This has been a safe Liberal seat, but I’ve found people are thinking a little more strategically about their vote.
“I’m being outspent by my opposition hundreds of dollars to one, but I’m walking the walk and saying hello to people in Terang.”
It was in the strategic approach Terang voters have expressed to Mrs Gaston where she found a cautious optimism this election could see a new representative elected.
“There’s a chance this time,”she said.
“The Liberal party need to win 20 seats to form government, which is a really big ask.
“I think people are questioning the point of having an opposition MP in sort of political purgatory.
“There are people, like myself, who are rusted on Labor or Liberal, but this is an important election and I want to be a voice for south west Victoria with a seat at the table of government.”
But Mrs Gaston acknowledged voters’ desire to shed the ‘safe seat’ label or have an MP on the side of elected government was not an aspect she solely relied upon.
She feels Labor has established a strong track record in the south west and can build on those results.
Notable projects include a $2 million redevelopment of Glenormiston College, the forthcoming $11.9 million redevelopment of Terang College and Hampden Specialist School, $2.1 million in upgrades to Mortlake College and funding which secured the recent completion of the new Garvoc Community Hub.
“In the last eight years there has been enormous investment in south west Victoria,” Mrs Gaston said.
“A lot of work has been done in schools. Our Western Victoria MP is Gayle Tierney (Minister for Training and Skills, Higher Education, Agriculture), who works like a Trojan and gets a lot of funding for this area.
“There is a lot of good policy coming out from Labor, so I’m certainly hopeful we’ll have the next four years to implement that.”
Mrs Gaston said she was thrilled with recent commitments Labor had made including the capping of rail travel prices at metropolitan levels and free three-to-four year Kinder.
She said the capping of prices for rail transport was “a brilliantstep forward “.
“Terang line passengers will travel to Melbourne and back for less than $10 and get two extra weekend services if the Labor Government is re-elected this month,” MrsGaston said.
“Free three and four year kinder is another game changer for kids and parents, with wonderful outcomes for children who learn so well through play.
“It will also free up some child care places and save the average family $2500 per year.”
Mrs Gaston grew up in Adelaide before travelling with her fiancé, who is French, after finishing university.
After living in France for more than a decade, getting married and having two daughters, Mrs Gaston and her family returned to Australia and chose to make Victoria’s south west home.
The Gaston family ran several successful hospitality businesses including ‘Beach Babylon’ in Warrnambool and ‘Charlies on East’ in Port Fairy.
Mrs Gaston gained experience in local government, serving two terms as a Warrnambool City councillor including two years as mayor.
She is a former board director of South West Health care, and currently serves as board director with Wannon Water, is a board member of Warrnambool and District Foodshare and a member of the Merri River School Community Committee and the Committee for Business and Professional Women South West.
Since June 2021, Mrs Gaston has worked with Brophy Family Services as team manager and engagement co-ordinator for Brophy Foster Care.