Maroondah Mayor Tony Dib takes on Liberal MP Heidi Victoria in Bayswater

BAYSWATER is shaping up as a hotly contested electorate at the state election, with Maroondah Mayor Tony Dib taking on Liberal MP Heidi Victoria.

Bayswater candidates

BAYSWATER is shaping up as a hotly contested electorate at the state election.

Maroondah Mayor and Labor candidate Tony Dib said his long history in council would make him the perfect candidate to wrestle the seat from state Liberal MP Heidi Victoria.

Mr Dib said the key issue was the ageing and run-down education facilities in Bayswater.

“Education is very important,” Mr Dib said.

“Visiting some of the schools in Bayswater, they’re very badly run down.

“You need first-class classrooms in order to get first-class education for your children.”

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Mr Dib also said he also wanted to crack down on crime, and would advocate for tougher penalties.

“Police are doing a great job but I want to push for longer sentencing for people who sell drugs,” he said.

Mr Dib said he would consider advocating for height controls, except in “activity centres like Croydon and Ringwood”.

“Police are doing a great job but I want to push for longer sentencing for people who sell drugs,” — Tony Dib, Bayswater state Labor candidate

Ms Victoria said she believed a strong economy and strong financial management were key issues in the upcoming election.

“I think a strong economy should be the main issue for my constituents, because strong financial management and strong economy is what helps keep people employed, and what helps people get opportunity, whether it’s better schools, roads, public transport, all of that stems out of strong economy,” Ms Victoria said.

“I think a strong economy should be the main issue for my constituents,” — Heidi Victoria, Bayswater state Liberal MP

Bayswater has also attracted candidates from the Australian Christians party, Animal Justice party and the Australian Country Alliance.

Independent candidate John Carbonari, a plasterer who lives in Footscray, said he believed Ferntree Gully was the only suburb covered by the seat of Bayswater. He wanted tougher laws for robbery and killing.

When asked the name of the State Treasurer, Michael O’Brien, Mr Carbonari said:

“The treasurer? I don’t even take notice.”

Mr Dib and Greens candidate James Tennant were also unable to name Mr O’Brien.

Australian Country Alliance candidate Jeremy Cass did not provide contact details on the VEC website, and an email request for an interview to party representative Neil Jenkins went unreturned.