Melbourne councillor Stephen Mayne considers standing up against ‘casino cronyism’ in marginal Albert Park seat

MELBOURNE city councillor Stephen Mayne has flagged plans to run for the marginal seat of Albert Park in punishment of Labor’s support of the controversial Crown casino deal.

Stephen Mayne before a public Enquiry into the Media conducted in Melbourne.

MELBOURNE city councillor Stephen Mayne has flagged plans to run for the marginal seat of Albert Park in punishment of Labor’s support of the controversial Crown casino deal.

Mr Mayne, a longtime anti-pokies campaigner and shareholder activist, used his latest newsletter to announce his intention to put “casino cronyism” on the State election agenda.

Writing just before the lower house signed off on the legislation, which will extend the casino’s lease to 2050, Mr Mayne said if Labor “does the dirty and votes through this Crown deal”, he will “probably” stand as an independent.

The Leader understands Mr Mayne has threatened to preference incumbent Labor MP Martin Foley last on November 29, in outrage over the deal.

The license extension will pour close to a billion dollars into state coffers — with some of this tied to Crown’s profits — but will also lock in the current regulatory system, compelling the Government to compensate the casino if smoking or gambling laws change.

Even Labor hard heads are muttering that she’s impressive and would make an excellent MP — and a welcome change from the old white blokes who so dominate Liberal Party rank. — Cr Stephen Mayne on Albert Park Liberal candidate, Shannon Eeles.

In the September 16 newsletter, Mr Mayne wrote that Mr Foley was “under pressure because the Liberals have preselected an excellent candidate” in 31-year-old education entrepreneur Shannon Eeles.

“Even Labor hard heads are muttering that she’s impressive and would make an excellent MP — and a welcome change from the old white blokes who so dominate Liberal Party ranks,” he wrote.

The seat of Albert Park has a margin of just 0.9 per cent, making it the second most marginal in the state.

“Nominations for independents don’t close until Friday November 14, so there’s plenty of time to make a final decision and we still need to see a few more policy positions from both sides before that will happen,” Mr Mayne wrote.

Port Phillip Deputy Mayor Serge Thomann would not say whether he planned to run, but the Leader understands he is focused on the upcoming mayoral election.

Cr Thomann took 9.10 per cent of the primary vote in 2010, just behind the Greens’ Ann Birrell who had 18.14 per cent.

Greens candidate David Collis, also against the Crown deal, welcomed the suggestion Mr Mayne might preference him before the two major parties’ candidates.

When Mr Mayne ran as an independent for the Northern Metropolitan Region at the 2010 election, he was tipped to win on the back of a complicated series of preference deals, but Labor retained the seat.

He had recommended preferences to the Greens.

Mr Mayne made his first foray into politics in 1999, quitting journalism to run against then Premier Jeff Kennett as a protest candidate.

Mr Mayne did not respond to telephone calls or email.

The Leader has invited Ms Eeles to comment.

Mr Foley declined to comment.

CROWN CASINO COMPENSATION DEAL

Gambling regulations that would trigger the compensation clause include:

— Cuts to the maximum bet limits on table games or poker machines

— Reductions in the number of gaming machines

— Changes to the casino’s unrestricted poker machines

— Changes to nearby automatic teller machines