State election: Broadmeadows, Yuroke battle for Labor heartland

Here’s what you need to know before casting your vote in Hume on Saturday.

Samantha Dick

2 min read

November 22, 2018 - 12:00AM

Hume Leader

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North West

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Four candidates will vie for your vote for the seat of Broadmeadows on Saturday, including a vocal member of the Broadmeadows Progess Association.

Incumbent Frank McGuire (Labor) has held the seat since a February 2011 by-election.

Greens candidate Sheriden Tate will attempt to leverage her standing as a passionate community advocate to snag the seat, and will be joined by mystery Liberal candidate Jenny Dow, who was nominated only last week, and Jerome Small (Victorian Socialists) on the ballot.

Ms Tate has called for more public open space, investment in renewable energies and better public transport.

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The seat of Broadmeadows has long been one of Labor’s safest, at some elections recording a two-party preferred vote 25 percentage points stronger than Labor’s statewide vote. It has been held by the party since 1962.

Transport is a key priority for the electorate, with frustrated commuters and Hume councillors rattling the chain for more carparking spaces at Broadmeadows train station, which currently offers just 210.

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At a recent Hume Council meeting, Cr Geoff Porter said he was concerned our “busiest station” had so few car parks when quieter stations such as Glenroy had more than 600 and Sunbury had more than 500.

“Parking in that area is vital,” he said, adding he hoped Broadmeadows would benefit from the State Government’s commitment to rolling out 11,000 new spaces at stations across the state.

Mr McGuire said a multimillion-dollar deal to purchase the loop road near Broadmeadows train station was close to agreement, potentially allowing more than 200 car parks.

He also recently secured $200,000 to establish Project REAL, an educational program led by Banksia Gardens in Broadmeadows which aims to help primary school students suffering trauma or behavioural problems.

BROADMEADOWS AT A GLANCE

SITTING MEMBER

Frank McGuire

AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

CANDIDATES

Jerome Small

VICTORIAN SOCIALISTS

Sheriden Tate

AUSTRALIAN GREEN

Jenny Dow

LIBERAL

In YUROKE, Craigieburn Rd campaigner Jim Overend (Liberal) is among four candidates fighting to snatch the seat from Labor MP Ros Spence, who has held it since 2014 and will recontest.

Other challengers include Emma Dook of the Victorian Socialists, Louise Sampson (Greens) and Independent Golda Zogheib.

Ms Spence recently announced several big-ticket election promises, including two secondary schools in Greenvale and Craigieburn. She has also committed to building 745 new carparking spaces at Craigieburn train station. Mr Overend has promised a crackdown on crime and traffic congestion.