General News
24 November, 2022
Politics in the Pub - Candidates visit Terang
Statements from candidates regarding their positions and policy aligned with statements made to WD News in our candidate questionnaire; which can be viewed here
POLITICS in the Pub drew a strong crowd at the Commercial Hotel in Terang last night.
Around 25 members of the community were in attendance to hear from, and ask questions of, candidates for South West Coast.
Independent candidates Carol Altmann and Michael McClusky, Greens candidate Thomas Campbell and Labor candidate Kylie Gaston were all in attendance.
Liberal candidate Roma Britnell, the incumbent MP for South West Coast, declined an invitation to attend or send a representative in her stead.
Candidates were first given the opportunity to introduce themselves before discussing their priorities and policies, and answering audience questions.
The discussion was moderated by Terang identity John Keane, who allowed the discussion to unfold as attendees asked questions, and candidates asked questions of each other.
The candidates held consistent views on what issues were impacting the region.
Roads, access to health services, public transport, political integrity and energy were all listed by candidates as top issues this election.
Roads topped the list of concerns, which candidates agreed had commonly been raised by voters in the Terang area.
The prevailing sentiment from candidates was a greater allocation of funding was needed to restore roads.
“The Andrews Labor Government has increased road spending in regional Victoria, but it’s clear it is still not enough,” Mrs Gaston said.
Statements from candidates regarding their positions and policy aligned with statements made to WD News in our candidate questionnaire; which can be viewed here.
A range of questions from the audience was asked of the candidates, many of which all took the opportunity to answer.
Commercial Hotel proprietor Les Cameron asked a question of his own; can an independent impact change if elected to Parliament?
Independent candidate Carol Altmann pointed to her record as an independent journalist – breaking news in Warrnambool which had impacted change.
Ms Altmann, reporting under the moniker The Terrier, broke major stories including systemic failure at aged care provider Lyndoch Living and the Warrnambool City Council credit card scandal.
She said previous independent MPs, such as Cathy McGowan, had also broken the grip major parties had on disillusioned regions and secured billions in funding for their constituents.
“For me it is about communication and connection,” Ms Altmann said.
“As an independent you are never in opposition and you’re always on the crossbench – which is much more powerful than being in opposition.
“Your community is literally your party, and I’ve shown the power of community through my work as an independent journalist; I couldn’t have done what I did without the help of the community.
“I have seen this seat stay in a holding pattern for basically 20 years; we deserve a much better deal, and the only way we can do that is by making us no longer a safe seat and forcing both parties to fight to get it back; or maybe not ever get it back again.”
The most common questions from the audience centred on the impacts of climate change.
One gentleman said he was worried what future was being left for his four-year-old grandchild after the CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology this week released its State of the Climate Report 2022, which found changes to weather and climate extremes were increasingly common.
“The Labor Government has been leading the nation in renewables and I do believe it is a visionary government which is trying to set us up for that very future,” Mrs Gaston said.
“The reforming of the State Electrical Commission; we all remember the days when Kennett privatised everything so money all went to shareholders, will be about taking privatisation out and putting renewable energy back in to the people’s hands.
“This is also about investing in our younger generations to create jobs and invest in their future.”
Dr McClusky said he did not follow ideology but evidence.
“Are excessive levels of greenhouse gasses contributing to climate change? The science strongly says yes,” he said.
“As far as the solution, there are some people who don’t want to believe the science and that’s been common throughout human history.
“For me the solution to follow science and technology.
“If it costs one cent per unit of energy to use renewables, and 10 cents to use fossil fuels, even Donald Trump would put solar panels on his estate in Florida.
“People are driven by the dollar.”
Candidates were also asked how younger voters could best be engaged to join political discussion in Victoria.
“I am an optimist, I look at things with a glass half full, and I think young voters are engaged,” Ms Gaston said.
Greens candidate Thomas Campbell said he looked at the question with a more “glass half empty” perspective.
“If there was an easy answer (to engaging younger voters) we would be doing it,” he said.
“My concern is dealing with issues such as housing affordability, lack of access to health care and the impacts of climate change.
“These will all spur interests during rough times.”
