Geelong election candidates respond to region’s most pressing questions
Candidates for the Geelong, Bellarine, Lara, Polwarth and South Barwon electorates have responded to some of the most hot button issues across the region. SEE THE SURVEY.
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Election candidates across the Geelong region have responded to some of the region’s most pressing concerns.
As Geelong gears up to return to the polls on November 26 for the state election, candidates from the Geelong, Lara, Polwarth, South Barwon and Bellarine electorates have discussed some of the hot button issues they are preparing to take on.
As part of the Geelong Advertiser’s survey, candidates discussed what they think the number one issue in their electorate is and what they pledge to do about it if elected this weekend.
Candidates also directly addressed some of the region’s biggest issues, including the rising cost of living pressures and the state’s 2045 net zero target.
GEELONG:
What is your favourite local business? I love Valhalla in Union St, it’s a great family-operated business, the owners are really lovely and it’s a rocking little alternative bar!
What do you love most about your town? We have a great sense of community in Geelong and are so fortunate to have the natural environment of both bush and beach on our doorstep.
What’s the number one issue in your electorate? The rising cost of living is definitely the key issue, rising rents and mortgages, skyrocketing utility bills and food prices are really putting the squeeze on families.
If elected, what do you pledge to achieve during your term? Address the housing and cost of living crisis, expand free health services and implement free education and training.
What will you do to ease cost of living pressures, if elected? Build public housing and implement rental caps, reverse the privatisation of services and cap utility bills for low-income households and lift the wage cap on public sector workers.
Do you agree/disagree with the state government’s target of reaching net zero by 2045? Strongly disagree. The climate science tells us we require net zero by 2030 if we have any hope of slowing down global warming to address climate change.
What is your favourite local business? Electra and Provenance Winery.
What do you love most about your town? It has the best of everything. We have one of the best universities, Barwon Health major hospital, the best regional Geelong Arts Centre, beautiful Geelong Gallery and the only regional AFL club.
What’s the number one issue in your electorate? Cost of living, health and jobs. The Geelong community has shown great resilience during the challenges of the global pandemic. I am really proud of Geelong’s caring response to more vulnerable people.
If elected, what do you pledge to achieve during your term? We have achieved so much in Geelong. The free TAFE will continue to ensure everyone has the opportunity to get the skills they need to address the workforce skill shortage.
What will you do to ease cost of living pressures, if elected? We will continue the $250 power saving bonus, solar homes and batteries program, free L plates and free P plate license testing, discounted drivers licence renewals, regional rail travel cost, and more.
Do you agree/disagree with the state government’s target of reaching net zero by 2045? Yes, of course. We will continue our climate change action, Victoria is leading the way with the introduction of 100 per cent renewable state owned energy company, and creating thousands of jobs.
What is your favourite local business? That’s a difficult question as I like many. I suppose Raw Cafe in Pako at the moment.
What do you love most about your town? The people make a place. We have a great community and we need more policies to support them, especially now in challenging times. We must do more to address poverty and homelessness.
What’s the number one issue in your electorate? Cost of living pressures followed by a strong feeling that government is broken and not working for them. (Saving Pako is a very hot issue.)
If elected, what do you pledge to achieve during your term? I will work hard to restore trust, transparency, integrity, accountability and common sense. The peoples’ trust in government has been broken and it has to be earned back.
What will you do to ease cost of living pressures, if elected? There are several ways we can bring down energy, rent and housing costs within months not years but they aren’t even being discussed. I will pursue those policies if elected.
Do you agree/disagree with the state government’s target of reaching net zero by 2045? I can see there are numerous flaws in our government’s approach even though I have always believed that aiming for a zero footprint should be our aspiration, but if our government can’t even recycle milk cartons and run a deposit scheme how are they going to achieve this?
What is your favourite local business? Feast Vegan Cafe/Restaurant.
What do you love most about your town? I love Corio Bay and the beautiful foreshore in Geelong. I also love the birdlife in Eastern Park, along the Barwon River and throughout all our parklands and reserves.
What’s the number one issue in your electorate? The proposed liquefied natural gas import terminal in Corio Bay, if approved, would reduce the impetus towards renewable energy and pose unacceptable environmental and safety risks.
If elected, what do you pledge to achieve during your term? I pledge to oppose the establishment of gas import terminal in Corio Bay, support Veticare (healthcare for animals), establish an animal crime division, and provide greater protection for wildlife.
What will you do to ease cost of living pressures, if elected? N/A.
Do you agree/disagree with the state government’s target of reaching net zero by 2045? We are in a climate emergency. I would like to see a 2035 target for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally I support a 30 per cent reduction in methane emissions by 2030.
What is your favourite local business? Good Folk Yoga.
What do you love most about your town? The diversity of landscape of Geelong/Djilang and our people offers stunning river walks along the Barwon, ocean swims down at Eastern Beach and the best coffee and croissants in our region!
What’s the number one issue in your electorate? The Greens will push to protect our precious coastline and prevent unacceptable risk to our environment by challenging the proposed Viva and Vopak terminals and gas exploration off the coast of our 12 Apostles.
If elected, what do you pledge to achieve during your term? Immediate action is needed to address the cost of living crisis, improve housing affordability, meaningful action on the climate emergency, and upgrades to local infrastructure that support Geelong as the major city it has become.
What will you do to ease cost of living pressures, if elected? Vouch for public owned electricity, meaner cheaper bills, genuinely free public schools, more affordable housing, capping rent increases, fairer taxes, double royalty rates for fossil fuel companies and stop privatising public services.
Do you agree/disagree with the state government’s target of reaching net zero by 2045? The Greens want to achieve net zero by 2030!
Other Geelong candidates who did not respond to our survey: Madeleine Parker-Hill (Family First Victoria) and James Bennett-Hullin (Liberal).
LARA:
What is your favourite local business? Lotus Kitchen at Cloverdale Community Centre.
What do you love most about your town? I serve the northern suburbs community as a GP because I love the diversity, determination and down-to-earth nature of the people that live there.
What’s the number one issue in your electorate? Increasing cost of living is the biggest challenge. People are struggling to pay bills, find affordable homes, and access basic services. This requires urgent action.
If elected, what do you pledge to achieve during your term? I will work with integrity to make the lives of the people of Lara easier while also protecting the environment, including outgoing opposition to the proposed floating gas terminals.
What will you do to ease cost of living pressures, if elected? Build more affordable housing and cap rent increases, make public education genuinely free, reduce public transport costs, make free healthcare easier to access, and create a publicly owned energy provider.
Do you agree/disagree with the state government’s target of reaching net zero by 2045? We should aim to reach 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030 and net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 or sooner to appropriately address climate change.
What is your favourite local business? Aviary Cafe
What do you love most about your town? The best part about the City of Greater Geelong is that it’s 30min-1hr drive to surf beaches, bush, You Yangs, or Melbourne. We have access to all options here.
What’s the number one issue in your electorate? While door knocking in Norlane and Corio, housing affordability and cost of living pressures generally were the most commonly raised concerns.
If elected, what do you pledge to achieve during your term? If I were to be elected I would likely be the loan socialist in the lower house. While I can‘t promise to achieve anything in this context, I can promise that I will campaign on the policies I am running on, work with the local community on local campaigns and remain accountable to the people who elected me.
What will you do to ease cost of living pressures, if elected? I would propose to campaign with local residents particularly on housing affordability measures including State and Federal funding for public housing, caps and freezes on rent and mortgages for locals to ensure they‘re not priced out in lieu of the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
Do you agree/disagree with the state government’s target of reaching net zero by 2045? Agree. This is in line with the Paris Agreement targets, of course the sooner the better as we‘re already experiencing the impacts of climate change now.
What is your favourite local business? Canteen 3215
What do you love most about your town? Geelong is a true big-small town, there is a sense of community and pride but also city-style amenities and cultural experiences.
What’s the number one issue in your electorate? Cost of living, particularly up in the northern suburbs where cost of food, energy, housing and transport bites hard.
If elected, what do you pledge to achieve during your term? I will never vote for an increase in taxes, or a decrease in civil liberties – the exact opposite of what the sitting government has consistently done.
What will you do to ease cost of living pressures, if elected? Lowering/removing taxes and slashing tape on housing supply, pulling out of renewable targets to encourage an increase in energy supply.
Do you agree/disagree with the state government’s target of reaching net zero by 2045? Disagree, it is impacting the current energy supply by discouraging much-needed investment in coal or gas projects.
What is your favourite local business? It’s a three-way tie between Jimmy’s Cafe in Bell Park, Rod’s Bakery and Anna’s Cafe in Lara.
What you love most about your town? The people. There is a real sense of community in Geelong’s north – people care about each other and look out for their neighbours.
What’s the number one issue in your electorate? The cost of living is impacting families and households across Geelong’s north.
If elected, what do you pledge to achieve during your term? I’m proud of the election commitments I’ve made in Lara and these will be funded in the first term:
$11m for the You Yangs and Serendip Sanctuary
$7.55m for a new gym at Western Heights College
$2m for female friendly facilities at North Shore Sports Club
What will you do to ease cost of living pressures, if elected? Labor has a plan to ease the cost of living with initiatives including: free kinder, free TAFE, the $250 Power Saving Bonus which will return in 2023 and slashing V/Line tickets to $9.20.
Do you agree/disagree with the state government’s target of reaching net zero by 2045? Why? Yes. Only Labor had a real plan to reach net zero and a real commitment to this target. Labor doesn’t just talk about climate action, we get on with delivering it and have already cut emissions by more than any other state, tripled the amount of renewable energy and created thousands of jobs.
Other Lara candidates who did not respond to our survey: Ralph Krein (Liberal), Steve Rankine (Family First Victoria), Peter Kelly (Animal Justice Party) and Ash Taylor (Angry Victorians Party).
POLWARTH:
What is your favourite local business? Torquay’s Frenchy’s for their gelati and the View Cafe in Colac was a regular campaign pit stop.
What do you love most about your town? We live in an incredible region that’s home to great people. From the bush to the beach, I can’t think of a better place to raise my family.
What’s the number one issue in your electorate? People care about the ‘balance’ of people and protecting the environment – keeping our region beautiful, while making sure we have the infrastructure and services local families need.
If elected, what do you pledge to achieve during your term? Better health, transport and schools. Protection of our environment. And a strong local voice who will stand up for the needs of our community.
What will you do to ease cost of living pressures, if elected? Only Labor will help with cost-0f-living: another round of our $250 Power Saving Bonus, Solar Home rebates, establishing government-owned energy by bringing back the SEC. Free Kinder. Free TAFE. Cheaper V/Line fares. The list’s too long!
Do you agree/disagree with the state government’s target of reaching net zero by 2045? Strongly agree! Acting decisively on emissions is vital to our local environment – as well as reducing power prices and creating new jobs in new industries. Our future depends on action!
What is your favourite local business? Elliminyty Mini Mart, provides my morning coffee.
What do you love most about your town? I have always loved the Colac Botanic Gardens and Lake Colac. It is a place full of life long memories.
What’s the number one issue in your electorate? The appalling state of roads, lack of maintenance and funding affects everyone’s lives and safety.
If elected, what do you pledge to achieve during your term? Better roads, more access to education, community controlled coastal communities, more sustainable local environment.
What will you do to ease cost of living pressures, if elected? Better roads will save money and lives, a more sustainable and cost effective energy supply.
Do you agree/disagree with the state government’s target of reaching net zero by 2045? I agree with a focus on a sustainable and low carbon energy future.
What is your favourite local business? The Lighthouse Cafe in Aireys Inlet – I go up there every day when I can for a coffee and a chat with the awesome crew.
What do you love most about your town? Being able to walk out my front door and head along a variety of trails, from the cliff walk to along the beach, through the busy or heathland.
What’s the number one issue in your electorate? Continuing to explore for new gas in our backyard, on Southern Sea Country. The Greens will continue fighting to stop harmful seismic testing and stop any new gas or oil exploration.
If elected, what do you pledge to achieve during your term? I’ll work to ban seismic testing and protect local natural ecosystems such as the Karaaf Wetlands, Spring Creek Valley and Anglesea River.
What will you do to ease cost of living pressures, if elected? Build more affordable housing, regulate the short stay industry to allow for more housing locally and build more public transport and bike lanes.
Do you agree/disagree with the state government’s target of reaching net zero by 2045? We must go further and faster to address the climate crisis and reach net zero by 2030. The Greens fully costed plan can achieve this.
Other Polwarth candidates who did not respond to our survey: Denes C Borsos (Independent), Hollie Hunter (Family First Victoria), Elisha Atchinson (Animal Justice Party) and Joseph Remenyi (Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party).
SOUTH BARWON:
What is your favourite local business? I do not have a favourite local business as there are so many fine ones, however I enjoy shopping at Highton Village.
What do you love most about your town? I have lived in Geelong my entire life. I love the fact that Geelong is not a big city and that it has a relaxed lifestyle perfect for raising a family in.
What’s the number one issue in your electorate? Health. We need to repair Daniel Andrews health crisis by fixing triple-0, ambulance wait times, providing upgraded hospitals and halving surgery waiting lists.
If elected, what do you pledge to achieve during your term? I pledge to ensure that Geelong receives its fair share of the state budget. The present Labor government is too Melbourne-centric. We need a greater focus on local infrastructure and services in Geelong.
What will you do to ease cost of living pressures, if elected? Cheaper water and energy charges, half price V/LINE fairs, fixed $2 local public transport fares and no stamp duty for first home buyers for homes up to $1 million in value.
Do you agree/disagree with the state government’s target of reaching net zero by 2045? We support a 50 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and the delivery of reliable, affordable and increasingly clean power with a $1 billion hydrogen strategy, unlocking 1800MW of renewables by upgrading transmission networks and a local natural gas guarantee.
What is your favourite local business? Harvey’s of Highton in the iconic Highton Village
What you love most about your town? Geelong is an amazing city of amazing people, full of history and heritage but with a strong future ahead of it.
What’s the number one issue in your electorate? Delivering the infrastructure and services that our growing community rely upon while maintaining the character of our neighbourhoods, from improving roads to delivering new Commonwealth Games facilities that the whole community will be able to enjoy.
If elected, what do you pledge to achieve during your term? I am looking forward to delivering the infrastructure, new schools and services that our growing community needs. I am also excited to deliver new sporting facilities for the Commonwealth Games in our area, which will be cut by Matthew Guy if he is elected.
What will you do to ease cost of living pressures, if elected? The Andrews Labor Government knows that the rising cost of living is making it harder for families to make ends meet – that’s why Labor has a real plan to help with free kinder, the $250 Power Saving Bonus and Free TAFE.
Do you agree/disagree with the state government’s target of reaching net zero by 2045? Why? Strongly Agree. The Andrews Labor government will reinstate the State Electricity Commission that was sold off by the Liberals, 100% powered by renewable energy to push down power prices for Victorians and act on climate change.
Other South Barwon candidates who did not respond to our survey: Jeynelle Dean (Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party), Genevieve Dawson-Scott (Greens), Leone Bates (Labour DLP), Alan Barron (Family First Victoria), Naomi Adams (Animal Justice Party), and Simone Timlinson (Freedom Party of Victoria).
BELLARINE:
What is your favourite local business? My own! Bellarine Smokehouse and after that the local news office – it’s the heart of the town.
What do you love most about your town? We are a beautiful seaside village, friendly people with beautiful beaches, a vast array of bird and wildlife! Our unique environment must be protected for future generations.
What’s the number one issue in your electorate? The lack of effective public transport & transport links. People are concerned that the two parties are not focused on protecting our environment and most importantly the lack of appropriate infrastructure.
If elected, what do you pledge to achieve during your term? Holding the people in power to account & ensure funds are distributed for issues that our community faces: ineffective public transport, climate action and protection of the environment, mental health and aged care, affordable housing, sports and education.
What will you do to ease cost of living pressures, if elected? I will support, challenge and ensure that any proposals are beneficial to the Bellarine & all of Victoria- promises are made at election time and I want to make sure they are followed through.
Do you agree/disagree with the state government’s target of reaching net zero by 2045? Yes agree, climate changes is real – I think we need to move as fast as we can. This can be achieved with positive economic impact, to ensure future generations are cared for.
What is your favourite local business? Flying Brick Cider Co.
What do you love most about your town? It‘s people. Our community look after each other- we volunteer at sporting clubs, we care for our environment and we support local.
What’s the number one issue in your electorate? Delivering services our community needs and protecting what makes it unique. Labor has set township boundaries to protect our green wedges, and we‘ll continue to invest in our infrastructure.
If elected, what do you pledge to achieve during your term? Labor will deliver an indoor aquatic centre for North Bellarine, upgrade local schools, upgrade sporting reserves, a community battery for Queenscliff and rebuild the St Leonards Pier.
What will you do to ease cost of living pressures, if elected? Bring back the SEC to push power prices down, expand the $250 power saver bonus, provide free rego for apprentices, deliver Free Kinder, expand Free TAFE and cap V/Line prices.
Do you agree/disagree with the state government’s target of reaching net zero by 2045? Absolutely agree. Labor has set and smashed previous ambitious targets and we need to continue our path to a cleaner future. It‘s a great opportunity for creating more jobs.
What is your favourite local business? As a small-business owner myself, I should say my own – Shelter Shed restaurant in Queenscliff but one of the favourite businesses I have come across on the campaign was Pinch Salt and Float Spa.
What do you love most about your town? I love that the towns around the Bellarine including Queenscliff are all a tight-knit community.
What’s the number one issue in your electorate? Bellarine hasn’t received the investment in our community that we deserve. We need better healthcare, better public transport and safer roads, increased cost of living relief and environmental leadership.
If elected, what do you pledge to achieve during your term? New bus routes, two full secondary schools both 7-12, more ambulance stations with more paramedic shifts and increased funding to help fix the triple-zero crisis.
What will you do to ease cost of living pressures, if elected? Cheaper water and energy charges, half price V/Line fares, fixed $2 local public transport fares, and no stamp duty for first home buyers for homes up to $1 million.
Do you agree/disagree with the state government’s target of reaching net zero by 2045? Why? We support a 50 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and the delivery of reliable, affordable and increasingly clean power with a $1 billion hydrogen strategy, unlocking 1800 MW of renewables by upgrading transmission networks and a local Victorian Gas for Victorians guarantee.
What is your favourite local business? Driftwood cafe Ocean Grove, Noble Rot Point Lonsdale, Pasquini’s Point Lonsdale, Basils Farm, and so many more! Far too hard to name just one.
What you love most about your town? The sense of community, the stunning coastline, beautiful fauna and unique wildlife. It is a truly idyllic place to live and raise children.
What’s the number one issue in your electorate? Climate change and all its devastating effects of which we are already experiencing. Increasing public transport services across the Bellarine also rates highly, as does addressing the rising cost of living, making housing more affordable, properly funding public education and educators, and better integrated health services.
If elected, what do you pledge to achieve during your term? Switching households and businesses across Bellarine to renewable energy in a timely cost effective way. Ending native forest logging by 2023. A total ban on ALL new fossil fuel projects. Creating a high frequency electric bus network across Bellarine.
What will you do to ease cost of living pressures, if elected? Create a publicly owned electricity grid to reduce energy costs, genuinely free public education, more affordable housing, increased wages for essential workers and fairer taxes.
Do you agree/disagree with the state government’s target of reaching net zero by 2045? Why? Reducing emissions by 74% of 2005 levels by 2030 can limit global warming to 1.5 Rapid and deep cuts to greenhouse emissions will save lives, livelihoods species and ecosystems.
What is your favourite local business? Brown Shugar Cafe
What you love most about your town? Peace, quietness, our neighbours, nearness to the sea.
What’s the number one issue in your electorate? Protecting local families from the threat of radical political correctness.
If elected, what do you pledge to achieve during your term? I will work to protect our children by stopping gender fluid indoctrination at school. I will work to protect freedom of speech and freedom of religion against cancel culture.
What will you do to ease cost of living pressures, if elected? Family First will push to stop the closure of base-load electricity generation capacity to stop power prices going up and contributing to inflation.
Do you agree/disagree with the state government’s target of reaching net zero by 2045? Why? I disagree because it is impossible to set targets like this when proper engineering and economic studies have not been done to determine whether or not reenable energy can provide affordable and reliable electricity.
Other Bellarine candidates who did not respond to our survey: Brett Ritchie (Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party), Kylee Muse (Freedom Party of Victoria), Brendan Taylor (Angry Victorians Party) and Adam Cardilini (Animal Justice Party).
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