Victorians Party announce first batch of candidates to take on major parties
A fledgling political party hoping to be a new force in Victorian parliament has revealed its first batch of candidates set to take on the major parties.
Victoria
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A fledgling political party hoping to be a new force in Victorian politics has announced its first candidates as it moves to call out the major parties on integrity and parachuted MPs.
Billing themselves as people rather than politicians, the Victorians Party has announced businesswoman Ingrid Maynard as its new leader who will run for an upper house spot in Eastern Victoria.
The party are looking to hold the balance of power by appealing to those tired of the political games and integrity issues of the major parties.
Ms Maynard will be joined by co-founder Oscar Yildiz, a Moreland councillor, who will run in the Northern Metropolitan seat and comedian Gabriel Rossi who will run Melbourne’s west.
Other upper house candidates include:
– City of Melbourne councillor Philip Le Liu
– Former businesswoman and volunteer Joanne Tadmore
– Moreland councillor Helen Pavlidis
The party has also announced its candidate for Labor-held Point Cook, with local business figure and biomedical engineer Shwetali Sawant running in what is expected to be one of the more unpredictable seats for the state election.
Former police officer and Wagaratta Hotel publican Greg Brown will run for Ovens Murray.
They intend to contest every seat at the November poll and win the balance of power.
Ms Maynard said the success of teal candidates at the federal election had shown Victorians were crying out for better options in their leaders.
“I have never been a member of any side of politics and while I have always held an interest in current and public affairs, I have dedicated most of my life to my family and building my business,” she said.
“Seeing the poor governance of Victoria over the past two years engaged me with politics.
“I realised we have a state in which the community is ignored while the government led by its career politicians, most of whom have never held a real job outside of politics, has done a terrible job, with little regard for the pain it is causing, while the opposition offers little resistance.”
Ms Maynard said the Victorians Party were centrist and would now be going out in the community consulting on key issues to form their policies rather than relying on ideology.
She also took a swipe at parachuted candidates who did not live in their electorates.
“Career politicians just don’t get it,” Ms Maynard said.
“Apart from not listening, they are detached from the needs and concerns of the community.
“In contrast, the Victorians Party candidates we have announced today and those that will be announced over the coming weeks all have one thing in common – they live and work in their local communities and will bring real life experience and success to the parliament.”
“Our candidates come from all backgrounds and cultures.
“All of that makes them better qualified to understand the needs of their electorates.”
Former federal Labor MP Kristina Keneally lost to a local independent candidate after copping criticism about being dropped into her seat.
In Point Cook, independents and minor parties are preparing to use a similar strategy to attack Labor candidate Mat Hilakari who has moved into the area from Carrum.
Ms Sawant said major party candidates would be called out and Point Cook residents wanted a local approach.
“If a person has no connection to the local community and the problems they are facing … How can you represent that community?” she said.
“You don’t need a person coming from 50km away, you need a voice and people are tired of traditional parties.”
Ms Sawant said Point Cook hand just one road in and out and that locals were fed up with inadequate infrastructure and issues with law and order.
Small Business Australia executive director Bill Lang will continue as executive director of the Victorians Party.
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