Corangamite Liberal candidate Steph Asher says election more about picking local representative

A frosty reception at an Ocean Grove federal election forum had the Liberal Party’s Corangamite candidate declare voting for local representatives was where real change would happen.

A frosty reception at an Ocean Grove federal election forum had Liberal Party candidate Stephanie Asher hit back at “moaning and groaning” and declare she was not there to defend government policy.

Ms Asher also told the forum the election in Corangamite was about picking a local representative, not who should be Prime Minister.

Stephanie Asher, Liberal Federal election candidate speaks to the Ocean Grove forum.

The crowd at Ocean Grove appeared filled with Labor supporters who constantly were “moaning and groaning” when Ms Asher, the Liberal candidate, responded to questions, a number of which she had to take “on notice.”

Responding to one detailed question on Australian Defence Force policy, Ms Asher said: “For all the moaning and groaning I’m not expected to be here to defend government policy, okay. I’m a candidate. So I understand my role is to find out information. Listen to you, take your question.”

LNP candidate Stephanie Asher at #CorangamiteDebate :
“In regards to the boos & jeers, I’m not here to defend any government policies, I’m just the candidate.”#auspol

— Shaun Reardon (@reardon_shaun) April 27, 2022

She said her local plan for the region would take action on health care, improving local infrastructure and providing jobs.

Ms Asher said the election in Corangamite was about picking a local representative rather than who voters wanted to lead the country.

“All politics are local. What I want to do now is take my local government representation of the community to the next level, to the national parliament,” Ms Asher said.

Ms Asher has appeared alongside Prime Minister Scott Morrison in the Geelong region twice in recent weeks. She has also campaigned twice with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.

Four of nine candidates vying for votes in Corangamite at the federal election fronted a forum at Ocean Grove on Wednesday night to lay out an election pitch.

Corangamite Labor MP Libby Coker and her challengers Ms Asher, Stephen Juhasz from the Australian Federation Party and Animal Justice Party candidate Meg Watkins spoke to about 100 people.

Ms Coker said cost of living would be a key issue at the election as the cost of bills, childcare and rent was rising.

“Under the Morrison government everything is going up expect your pay,” Ms Coker said.

Ms Watkins said her party wanted no new coal or gas exploration off the Australian coastline, net-zero carbon emissions by 2035, and a federal anti-corruption commission.

“I am completely disillusioned and underwhelmed by our government’s lack of action on the issues that matter but that’s why I’m standing for election,” Ms Watkins said.

Mr Juhasz said he was running to end a political system dominated by “political point scoring” but made a number of references to failed Labor policy.

Corangamite election candidates (L to R): Labor's Libby Coker, Australian Federation Party's Stephen Juhasz, Liberal Steph Asher and Animal Justice Party's Meg Watkins. Picture: Moshtagh Heidari.

Mr Juhasz said he wanted to run for federal parliament to make in roads into poverty and homelessness.

“This is the first time I have stood with a party. I wanted to have the freedom to be able to express the views and the issues, which are there in the community, which hardly ever get talked about.”

Corangamite was won by just 2,170 two-party preferred votes at the 2019 election.

In 2019 Liberal candidate, now senator, Sarah Henderson won 6,970 more first-preference votes than Ms Coker but Ms Coker won office due to preference flows.

Federal election candidate forum in Ocean Grove.

The Addy asked the minor party candidates where their preferences would flow. Ms Watkins said her preferences would be decided on in coming days.

“Our preferences are being negotiated by the party but also by seat so our preferences will be completely different depending on each seat for each party and what their policies are.”

Mr Juhasz said his party was “a bottom up” party not “a top down party” but said he was unlikely to have an input into his preferences.

“I haven’t been asked and I don’t think I’ll have much input on that.”

Organisers of the candidates forum reached out to Liberal Democrat Paul Barker, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation candidate Luke Sorensen, United Australia Party candidate Daniel Abou-zeid, Greens candidate Alex Marshall and Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party candidate Jean-Marie D’Argent. The group, who are all candidates in Corangamite, did not attend.

Originally published as Corangamite Liberal candidate Steph Asher says election more about picking local representative