City of Greater Geelong election 2024: Kardinia candidate survey

Find out about this year’s candidates.

Picture: Alan Barber

Stretch Kontelj

Kardinia candidate Srechko Kontelj

Age: 62

Occupation: International Lawyer

Do you live in the ward? Yes

Are you or have you ever been a member of a political party? If so, which one(s)? Yes, Liberal Party

What are the three key issues you are campaigning on? Back to basics. Tackle cost of living pressures and revitalising the CBD will

be my priorities.

Should council only focus on the three Rs - roads, rates and rubbish? Council needs to lead the development of a strategy and a vision for the region and at the same time focus upon the basics: roads, rates, rubbish and footpaths.

Do you believe Australia Day should remain on January 26? I strongly believe in commemorating Australia Day on whatever date proclaimed by the Federal government. This shouldn’t be the business of local government.

Do you think we are currently facing a climate emergency? Do I believe in climate change, yes. Do I believe that human activity contributes to climate change, yes. Do I think that we should be panicking, no.

Emilie Flynn

Kardinia candidate Emilie Flynn

Age: 30

Occupation: Operations and Project Coordinator

Do you live in the ward? Yes

Are you or have you ever been a member of a political party? If so, which one(s)? I’m proud to be an endorsed Greens candidate.

What are the three key issues you are campaigning on? Revitalising the CBD; addressing climate change on a local level; better and safer alternative transport, e.g. public transport and cycling.

Should council only focus on the three Rs - roads, rates and rubbish? No. “Back to basics” = cutting services. Council’s role includes supporting parents, children, youth, the aged, small business, sportspeople, multicultural communities and people with disabilities.

Do you believe Australia Day should remain on January 26? No. It causes distress to First Nations communities. We should work together to find an alternative date.

Do you think we are currently facing a climate emergency? Yes. I’m a sustainability professional and know the science. Council needs to work with the community to secure a safe future.

Peter William Desbrowe-Annear

Kardinia candidate Peter Desbrowe-Annear

Age: 69

Occupation: Director

Do you live in the ward? Yes

Are you or have you ever been a member of a political party? If so, which one(s)? Liberal

What are the three key issues you are campaigning on? Hopefully can help get Geelong back on the map

Should council only focus on the three Rs - roads, rates and rubbish? Their job is all of those but there is a bit more involved in making Geelong a much better place to live.

Do you believe Australia Day should remain on January 26? Yes. I am Australian and I use this day to celebrate all the achievements that Australia and its citizens past and present have done for Australia and the World.

Do you think we are currently facing a climate emergency? I think technology is changing quickly enough that we won’t have a global emergency.

Peter Murrihy

Kardinia candidate Peter Murrihy

Age: 64

Occupation: Semi Retired

Do you live in the ward? Yes

Are you or have you ever been a member of a political party? If so, which one(s)? No

What are the three key issues you are campaigning on? Upgrading of Sporting Facilities, more attention to Roads/Footpaths and a real concentration on improvements in the CBD.

Should council only focus on the three Rs - roads, rates and rubbish? No, there is so much more to the Services that the Community expects from Council.

Do you believe Australia Day should remain on January 26? No, this is a complex issue and I would expect the Federal Government to lead the way on finding the best solution.

Do you think we are currently facing a climate emergency? Yes I do because we cannot continue to damage our planet and not expect severe consequences. Things have to change.

Candice Costoso

Kardinia candidate Candice Costoso

Age: 43

Occupation: Real Estate Agent

Do you live in the ward? Yes

Are you or have you ever been a member of a political party? If so, which one(s)? No

What are the three key issues you are campaigning on? Small business initiatives in Geelong for successful business to revitalise Geelong and create employment. Regulation of council rates, projects to create tourism

Should council only focus on the three Rs - roads, rates and rubbish? No, council needs to focus on bringing people, residents and tourists back to the CBD rather than the outer suburbs

Do you believe Australia Day should remain on January 26? Yes. The date represents invasion. I do believe a public holiday alternative could be created to celebrate our country.

Do you think we are currently facing a climate emergency? No, I do not believe we are facing a climate change emergency. I believe we are facing a sustainability emergency.

Johnny Dunstan

Did not respond.

Daniel Garcia

Did not respond.

Originally published as City of Greater Geelong election 2024: Kardinia candidate survey