Edithvale student Georgina Oxley stands as independent for Mordialloc

GEORGINA Oxley is proving young people do have a political voice, as she stands for Mordialloc in the upcoming state election.

19-year-old Georgina Oxley has nominated as an independent candidate in the seat of Mordialloc for the State Election. Picture: Paul Loughnan

AT ONLY 19 Georgina Oxley is proving young people do have a political voice, as she puts her hand up as an independent candidate for Mordialloc for the coming state election.

The Edithvale university student made the decision to nominate after becoming frustrated with the common idea that young people were not interested in politics.

“My generation wants to have its voice heard,” Ms Oxley said.

“The difference is that we don’t express ourselves through the traditional political methods, we use social media and other modern means.”

Ms Oxley aims to preserve open space such as Kingston’s Green Wedge, and improve public transport such as upgrading Chelsea Station to premium status.

She said she had always been politically-minded and began thinking about standing for election after being encouraged by others earlier this year.

“Kingston councillor David Eden ... saw that I was really passionate and suggested I should think about nominating for the state election,” Ms Oxley said.

While campaigning, Ms Oxley said constituents had told her they were “fed up with the major parties”, but also accused her of being too young and of being a Labor or Liberal Party stacker.

“Often the first thing people talk to me about is my age, but I ask them, ‘Why see my age as a negative?’ I have the passion and the drive for it and so many people are sick of the party politics they see all the time.”

Ms Oxley joins incumbent Liberal Lorraine Wreford, Labor’s Tim Richardson and the Greens’ Alex Breskin in the list of nominations so far for the seat of Mordialloc.

A redrawing of boundaries last year resulted in the seat of Mordialloc gaining the suburbs of Aspendale, Edithvale, Chelsea and Chelsea Heights and losing Heatherton, Braeside and Dingley Village, reducing the Liberal margin from 2.1 per cent to 1.5 per cent.