Deputy PM Richard Marles, Darren Buller make their pitch for Corio

Will Darren Buller have any chance against arguably Geelong’s most powerful politician – Richard Marles? Read and decide.

Liberal candidate for Corio Darren Buller takes on Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles in Two Views.

He has held Corio for close to two decades and is clearly holding a stronghold over his electorate.

So how will the Liberal’s little known Darren Buller put a dent in Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles solid voter support?

Read their pitches to the electorate below and scroll to the bottom to leave your vote.

Richard Marles

Deputy Prime Minister, Corio MP and Labor Candidate

Right now, families across Geelong are feeling the pinch of the cost of living. That’s why each and every day, our government, the Albanese Labor Government, has been focused on delivering sensible, targeted and sustainable cost of living relief.

Building on our tax cuts last year the recent Budget will provide every Geelong taxpayer a further tax cut next year and the year after. That means more money in your pocket with an average tax cut of over $2,500 each year.

We also gave a further round of power bill relief taking another $150 off power bills for every household.

But we are also tackling inflation which is the heart of the issue. We delivered two surpluses in our first two years of government: something the Liberals never did. Inflation was at 6.1% and rising when we came to office and now it is 2.4% and falling which has created the room for interest rate cuts. The economy is starting to turn around and now we want every Australian to get ahead.

Medicare matters and we are making the biggest investment in Medicare since its creation 40 years ago, so Australians can see a GP for free. Because if you get hurt, or you have a sick child, you shouldn’t need your credit card, only your Medicare card. When you’re already facing cost of living challenges, access to health care is so important.

In the last three years, Labor has opened 87 free Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across Australia – including one in Belmont.

Deputy prime minister Richard Marles speaks at Future Geelong. Picture: Alison Wynd

The Belmont Urgent Care Clinic has been open since January 2023. I had the privilege of visiting this clinic last week and saw the enormous difference it is making in Geelong. Every week, it sees between 350 and 420 patients who otherwise might not have had access to free healthcare. Around half of those patients would be forced to visit the Emergency Department, were it not for the Urgent Care Clinic.

That’s why we’re promising to open 50 more just like it around the country, including an Urgent Care Clinic in Torquay.

While tax cuts and better Medicare are national policies I know what they will mean locally. Because these days, as I sit around tables of national decision making, my sense of what’s important for the nation is deeply informed by my sense of what is important for Geelong.

Over the weekend the North Shore Football and Netball club launched its 2025 winter season and the sense of excitement was palpable. Clubs like this, particularly in areas which have struggled more, are so important to empowering the community.

That’s why I was so pleased to announce a $4 million commitment towards the redevelopment of Windsor Park.

North Shore has such a rich history in our town. And I know that with support there is an optimistic future for the Northern suburbs.

Deputy PM and Defence Minister Richard Marles with a F-35A fighter jet. Picture: David Caird

We are putting an additional $16.5 billion of funding into schools around the country through the National Schools Agreement, unlocking a better future for students at schools like Northern Bay College, where I met School Captains Ali and Farzana at the recent Harmony Day celebrations.

We’re expanding the number of free TAFE places and cutting HECS so that students can pursue their dreams.

And we are making Australia, and Geelong a place where we build things again. The Hanwha factory at Avalon is seeing the return of manufacturing to our town and with it, more high-skilled, well-paid jobs.

Our Prime Minister talks about his own political philosophy in terms of not holding anyone back and not leaving anyone behind. And this spirit informs the government he leads.

It’s a very Australian idea. But I think in so many ways, it’s a very Geelong idea. It’s an idea which is embodied in a Geelong community spirit which makes our town so special. It’s a community spirit which gives me so much confidence that we can overcome difficult challenges together and take the opportunities of the future together and build a better town for all.

And supporting this spirit will be at the heart of the mission of a re-elected Albanese Government if given the chance by the Australian people on May 3.

Darren Buller

Liberal candidate for Corio

This election, our community has an important choice to make, between a Dutton Liberal government, that will build a strong economy and get us back on track, or a Labor government, that has damaged our economy and seen the biggest fall in living standards in the developed world.

Just like you, I’ve felt the impacts of Labor’s cost-of-living crisis first-hand. I live and work locally, and serve as a CFA volunteer in Bannockburn. I’ve had a decade-long manufacturing and business career, including key roles at Toyo Tyre and Rubber, and Socobell Automotive.

Right now, everything is more expensive. Over the past three years of this government, interest rates have gone up 12 times. The cost of electricity and gas is through the roof.

To put it simply, I’m running for parliament because I want to fight for the Corio community, unlike current MP Richard Marles who’s neglected families and businesses doing it tough.

The people of Geelong have seen a record collapse in their standard of living thanks to the economic mismanagement of Labor and Richard Marles. Local roads are crumbling and our community infrastructure is not up to scratch.

Darren Buller is the Liberal Party’s candidate in Corio. Picture: Supplied

This is not the first time I’ve run for parliament. I was recently reminded of my 2001 campaign yard sign. It’s a poignant reminder of a life lived and the challenges faced over the years.

The 2001 sign is a photo of a guy with everything at his feet: a new house, a 12-month-old daughter, a great job, and a very happy marriage.

Then tragedy struck on election day, November 10, 2001. That day my first wife tragically died from a brain aneurysm. So here I was, with a young daughter, a mortgage, a great employer and the prospect of being mum and dad at the same time. My world was turned upside-down.

I then met my current wife, had another three beautiful children and moved to Golden Plains.

I’ve always had a passion to serve people. I’ve found ways to do that through men’s groups, faith communities, business networks and social justice opportunities.

In 2025, I’m proud of the policies the Liberals are taking to this election that will support some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

First, mental health. Almost two in five Australians aged 16-24 have experienced a mental health disorder in the previous 12 months. When Labor came to government, they cut Medicare-subsidised mental health sessions from 20 to 10.

Unlike Labor, mental health and suicide prevention is one of the Liberal Party’s highest priorities. We have a commitment to invest an additional $400m to deliver a world-leading focus on youth mental health.

This includes restoring the number of Medicare-subsidised mental health sessions back to 20.

Second, cost-of-living relief. Twelve interest rate rises over the past three years mean Australians with an average mortgage of $650,000, paid about $50,000 more.

If elected, the Liberals will cut the fuel tax in half for 12 months. This means you’ll save 25c per litre at the petrol pump. This could save a family with two cars around $1,500 a year.

We will also provide $50m to help food charities like Foodbank, SecondBite and OzHarvest expand their services. This includes school breakfast programs.

Locally, affordable housing is also a key concern. We will unlock up to 500,000 new homes by investing $5bn to fund essential infrastructure like water, power and sewerage at housing development sites.

We will boost housing supply, rebalance migration, incentivise first-home buyers and take pressure off interest rates and rents.

We can’t afford three more years of Labor. Read about the Liberal’s Plan to get Australia back on track by visiting liberal.org.au/our-plan.

Originally published as Deputy PM Richard Marles, Darren Buller make their pitch for Corio