State election 2018: Lidia Thorpe and Kat Theophanous fight for Northcote seat

NORTHCOTE candidates have both pledged to fight for increased funding, improved public transport and a focus on mental health and a political expert says the seat will be vital for whoever enters government in November.

THE battle for Northcote will be fought over commitments for school funding, improved public transport and a focus on mental health.

Greens MP Lidia Thorpe won the seat last November after the death of Labor MP Fiona Richardson.

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Ms Thorpe pointed to her work on the Victorian treaty process, the securing of renters rights and the funding for school building repairs as her successes.

Rental laws the State Government passed in September were originally promised during the by-election and delivered new rights, such as allowing pets by default.

Northcote state Greens MP Lidia Thorpe was the first Aboriginal woman in Parliament after her election in November last year. Picture: Joe Castro

The 2017 upset was the first time since 1927 Labor had lost the seat.

Labor candidate Kat Theophanous is confident her “real solutions” would win it back.

Ms Theophanous said she would work towards more funding for school infrastructure, upgrades to public transport and funding for sports and community organisations.

“Labor is working to ease cost of living with landmark initiatives like free TAFE, universal three-year-old kinder, keeping the cap on council rate rises and investing in home solar to ease energy costs,” she said.

Ms Thorpe promised to fight for our natural environment and create the great forest national park, plan the Metro 2 rail project, improve trams and increase rights for indigenous people.

“I’ll ensure that the Victorian treaty process respects our culture and delivers meaningful improvements to the lives of Aboriginal people,” she said.

Both candidates said mental health was a priority and wanted more investment in it.

Ms Theophanous said Labor’s $705 million investment should just be the start.

Labor candidate Kat Theophanous is the daughter of former Labor minister Theo Theophanous and worked in former MP Fiona Richardson’s office. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Ms Thorpe said she would push for a comprehensive approach and for investment in community mental health services and new sporting facilities, such as the Thornbury Multi-Sports Stadium.

Monash University political scientist Dr Nick Economou said the federal by-election for Batman gave the biggest clue to the Greens’ chances of retaining the seat.

“All the booths in Northcote, even though they swung to Labor, the Greens got a better two-party preferred,” he said.

And although he expected the Greens to retain the seat, Dr Economou said the inner-city electorate could be vital to the government’s slim majority.

“(Northcote voters) could actually have a profound influence over who forms government and what government we get,” he said.

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