Federal election 2019: Tight race expected as Deakin voters head to polls on Saturday
Deakin voters will head to the polls on Saturday with a tight contest expected in the traditionally safe Liberal seat.
East
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DEAKIN voters will head to the polls on Saturday with a tight contest expected for the first time in six years.
The federal seat was created in 1937 in honour of former Prime Minister Alfred Deakin, who served three terms in the role.
It covers 79sq km in Melbourne’s east and includes all of Maroondah except Warranwood, Whitehorse suburbs Mitcham, Vermont and Vermont South and parts of Forest Hill and Nunawading.
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Deakin has traditionally been a Liberal seat with the party triumphing on all but three occasions since its creation.
Labor last won the seat in 2007 when Mike Symon defeated Phil Barresi.
Liberal Michael Sukkar won the seat back for his party in 2013 and is seeking a third term as the electorate’s representative.
He has a 6.4 per cent margin and will face off against seven other candidates.
Mr Sukkar’s major pledges in the election campaign have centred on infrastructure.
He has promised $50 million to widen Dorset Rd in Croydon and $30 million for new multi-deck carparks at Heatherdale and Heathmont railway stations.
Mr Sukkar has also pledged $3 million for a basketball stadium in Heathmont and $1.175 million to upgrade 12 scout halls in the electorate.
Labor’s Shireen Morris is expected to be Mr Sukkar’s biggest challenger for the seat.
The first-time candidate has pledged support for projects in the areas of health, environment, education and the arts.
They include $5.2 million to revamp Ringwood East’s EACH community health centre, $1.5 million to revitalise Croydon’s Tarralla Creek and $1 million for a youth music hub in Croydon.
Mr Sukkar and Ms Morris have also shown support to overhaul sports facilities.
They’ve both committed $1.5 million for an expansion of Vermont South’s Sportslink and $2 million to revamp Heatherdale Pavilion in Mitcham.
Ms Morris has also pledged $500,000 each for new sporting pavilions at Ringwood’s Proclamation Park and Croydon’s Springfield Reserve, as well as $2 million towards Maroondah Council’s Croydon Community Precinct plans.
Mr Sukkar also announced $2 million for the precinct prior to the election being called.
Minor parties including United Australia Party (Milton Wilde), The Greens (Sophia Sun), Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party (Ellie Jean Sullivan), Animal Justice Party (Vinita Costantino) and Democratic Labour Party (Joel van der Horst) have also fielded Deakin candidates, while Vickie Janson is running as an independent.