Jennifer Yang to contest Chisholm at the 2019 federal election
A former mayor and Lord Mayor candidate who resigned amid controversy ahead of the last federal election will again contest a seat in the May poll.
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A former Manningham mayor who resigned amid controversy ahead of her unsuccessful bid for a seat in the Senate at the 2016 federal election has put her hand up to contest Chisholm at this year’s vote.
After leaving the council in 2016, Jennifer Yang ran as an ALP candidate for a spot in the upper house.
Last year she challenged for the Melbourne Council’s lord mayor role before announcing last week that she would stand in Chisholm.
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The federal seat of Chisholm stretches from Blackburn North, where it borders Manningham, to Mt Waverley in the south.
It is held by Independent MP Julia Banks, who quit the Liberal Party and will contest seat of Flinders.
Ms Yang lives in Blackburn South with her husband Rob and their two children.
In campaign material distributed at Blackburn railway station last week she said her role as mayor was vital experience ahead of a potential move into federal politics.
“I believe that our community and country deserve better than we are getting from the current government,” she said.
She said key issues included better schools, health services, faster NBN, secure jobs and fairer wages.
“As a professional with a technology, science and business background, I am passionate about creating a sustainable environment and for Australia to have a strong economy that encourages innovation and job creation,” Ms Yang said.
Manningham Leader reported last May that Ms Yang had thrown her hat into the ring for the Lord Mayor job made vacant when Robert Doyle stepped down.
Ms Yang’s platform included an initiative to encourage people to cycle to work, with a goal to have 25 per cent of vehicles entering the CBD of a morning be bicycles.
Ms Yang started campaigning in 2016 before the election had been officially called, eventually resigning ahead of the July 2 poll.
This year’s vote is expected to take place in May.
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