State Election: Darebin Councillors Susanne Newton and Gaetano Greco to go up against MP Robin Scott for Preston seat
CHALLENGERS for the seat of Preston in the upcoming state election say they are running to kick start more action in their safe Labor seat.
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CHALLENGERS for the state seat of Preston know they have an uphill battle in November’s state election but say every vote is a vote for the government’s attention.
Greens candidate Susanne Newton and independent Gaetano Greco, both Darebin Councillors, said they were running to bring more funding to the electorate, which had been neglected due to its history as a safe Labor seat.
CROSSINGS AND TRAMS PRIORITIES FOR COUNCIL
Both candidates said more needed to be done to extend the Route 11 tram, stop inappropriate development and reduce the gambling harm caused by poker machines.
“Labor governments have been addicted to pokies revenue. People are struggling to pay their bills, yet Labor allows eight pubs and clubs in the electorate to take millions of dollars from the pockets of our community,” Cr Newton said.
Preston state Labor MP Robin Scott said he was proud of his work since his re-election in 2014 and pointed to the Bell and Reservoir level crossing removals, improvements to education including the new Preston high School and the largest ever investment in mental health as his greatest achievements.
“We have also put in place a new Solar Homes Program, are building the Metro Tunnel, have made tackling domestic violence a priority … this list is not exhaustive,” he said.
Monash University political scientist Dr Nick Economou said it was unlikely the seat would change hands and pointed to the Batman by-election as the biggest indicator.
“The result in the Preston end for Batman was really good for Labor,” he said.
Dr Economou said it was the nature of the political system for funds to flow to marginal seats.
Mr Scott said his priorities for the next four years were to improve facilities at local school, save the Preston Market and to improve east-west travel through Reservoir junction.
Cr Newton and Cr Greco both agreed the junction needed to be improved but questioned why the government didn’t choose to fix the roads and the level crossing at the same time.
And while Mr Scott promised to work with a federal Labor government to extend the Route 11 tram, who promised to do so during the Batman by-election this year, both challengers agreed the state government needed to make it a priority.
“Trams and public transport are a state government issue and (Robin Scott) could have done more to finally extend the tram after decades of empty promises,” Cr Greco said.
The Victorian Liberals have not yet declared a candidate.
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