DUNKLEY BY-ELECTION
Candidate 'inspired' by Peta Murphy - PM
LABOR candidate for Dunkley Jodie Belyea (right) and Liberal candidate and Frankston mayor Nathan Conroy (left) with former MP Peta Murphy and Frankston’s 2023 citizen of the year Warwick Exton last January. Exton died in July, and Murphy died in December. Picture: Supplied
Labor and Liberals pick Dunkley candidates MAJOR party candidates for the Dunkley by-election have been locked in. The death of Peta Murphy in December left the seat of Dunkley vacant. On Thursday 11 January, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that Jodie Belyea would be Labor’s candidate. On Sunday the Liberal Party preselected incumbent Frankston mayor Nathan Conroy to be its candidiate. Jodie Belyea is the founder of the Women’s Spirit Project. Her organisation offers a free 11week program for women who have experienced family violence, mental health issues, poverty, and unemployment (“Women’s group celebrates success” The News 21/6/22). The program has run on the Mornington Peninsula and in Carrum. Albanese, backed at a press conference by Peta Murphy’s husband Rod Glover, said Belyea would “continue to build on [Murphy’s] legacy”. “No two people are the same. But they do remind me of each other in that they are both fighters,” Albanese said. “Jodie is certainly not a career politician. She’s someone who, I think, is the right fit for this community to be a strong advocate.” Belyea told reporters on Thursday “I was very fortunate to meet the late and great Peta Murphy through my work supporting women experiencing disadvantage through the Women’s Spirit Project.”
“I am not going to necessarily be Peta, but I am going to lean into her legacy,” she said. “I have big shoes to fill, and over the next few weeks you are going to see me campaigning on the cost of living, health and medicare, and affordable housing.” Irish-born Conroy has been mayor of Frankston for three consecutive terms. He is an effective campaigner, having been elected to council in 2020 comfortably ahead of his closest challenger. After winning preselection for the Liberals he said “it’s a privilege to serve as mayor of Frankston City. But there is so much more to be done to deliver for this community and that’s why I’ve put myself forward for Dunkley.” “I will always listen and I will work hard to ensure this community remains a wonderful place to live, work, raise a family and retire,” he said. If Conroy takes leave from council to campaign, deputy mayor Liam Hughes will be called upon to perform the mayoral duties. Hughes is expected to be overseas at the beginning of this year. If Conroy wins the by-election and resigns from council, a countback of the 2020 election results would be held to appoint a new councillor. After the new councillor is sworn in, councillors will convene to elect a new mayor. A date for the Dunkley by-election has not been announced yet. Brodie Cowburn
BY ANTHONY ALBANESE* This week I was back in Frankston to ask Jodie Belyea to be Labor’s candidate for Dunkley. Jodie is a local Frankston mum who has put her hand up after the late Peta Murphy’s passing. I know that for many of us, not just in the Labor family, but in the local community, the loss of Peta Murphy has been devastating. It meant a lot that Rod, Peta’s husband, joined us on Thursday at the Frankston Bowling Club to help launch Jodie’s campaign. Because of Peta’s work, Jodie Belyea was inspired to join the Labor Party. I’m proud that Jodie is working hard to continue Peta’s legacy. Peta Murphy was a fighter. Peta fought for this community every day and I know Jodie Belyea will too.Because this community deserves a strong, local voice. Jodie met Peta through her work for a not-forprofit organisation that supports local women doing it tough. I know Jodie will build on Peta’s legacy. Jodie will be a strong local voice for Dunkley and part of a government that is working every day to make lives better. We’re delivering responsible cost of living relief, with support for families, including cheaper child care, cheaper medicines, electricity bill relief, and making it cheaper and easier to see a doctor. My team has made it easier to see a doctor, with 19 more GPs now working in Dunkley We’ve taken the load off the local emergency department at Frankston hospital, with the opening of the Frankston Urgent Care Clinic. Already, 11,000 patients have been through its doors. And there are thousands of families paying less for their child care because of our cheaper child care initiative. Jodie studied and worked at Chisholm TAFE and community organisations like Anglicare. She’ll be part of a Government that is making record investments in vocational education and TAFE, so that locals can get the skills they need
to get ahead and provide for their loved ones. Jodie also knows we’re working hard to make sure people can find a home of their own. Since the election, the Home Guarantee Scheme has helped more than 3,500 people in Melbourne’s south east and over 1,000 people in Mornington Peninsula into a home of their own. So, in the coming weeks, you’ll see Jodie Belyea out and about. Take the opportunity to have a chat with Jodie and hear a bit more about why she’s put her hand up to be the next Member for Dunkley and the newest member of my government. *Anthony Albanese is the Prime Minister of Australia
DUNKLEY candidate Jodie Belyea and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Frankston last week. Picture: Supplied
Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
17 January 2024
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