Discount

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Seven in running for Gippsland East

GIPPSLAND EAST covers 27,544 square kilometres, making it the third-largest LowerHouse seat in Victoria. Tim Bull of the National Party is the incumbent MP, having represented the seat since the 2010 State Election. The electorate incorporates all of East Gippsland Shire and the northern part of Wellington Shire, including the towns of Maffra, Stratford, Heyfield, Glenmaggie, Boisdale, Briagolong and Dargo. Tim Bull: The Nationals

I AM seeking your support to continue to represent Gippsland East. Labor has been in government for 19 of the past 23 years, and our state debt is alarmingly higher than NSW, Queensland and Tasmania combined. In addition, our roads are a mess after massive funding cuts and our health system is in crisis. The Liberal and Nationals are committed to fix both. We will divert the $12 billion allocated to a metro rail line to the health sector, which includes a new $230 million Bairnsdale Hospital, significant additional funding to Maffra and Heyfield hospitals and a major staff recruitment program. Following the devastating fires, Daniel Andrews promised he ‘would walk with us’ in our recovery - but has not been back once. Rebuilding important tourism infrastructure at Cape Conran, Buchan and the Thurra River Bridge has either not begun, or is at a standstill. He is closing our timber industry with no job transition plan and despite country Victoria having 25 per cent of the state’s population, we only receive 13 per cent of the infrastructure spend. Five weeks ago, none of my fellow candidates had nominated. If they were serious about representing our great area, they would have been in the field long before. More than half do not live in East Gippsland. I’ve worked hard to represent and advocate for this region where I have lived all my life, and seek your support to continue to do so. Stephen Richardson: Labor

I WAS educated at Swifts Creek, then went to

MEET THE CANDIDATES

Gippsland East incumbent Tim Bull (Nationals). Labor party candidate Stephen Richardson.

Melbourne to do an apprenticeship. However, as the saying goes, “You can take the boy out of the country but can’t take the country out of the boy!” Returning to Swifts Creek, I worked in the family business, Tambo Valley Electrics and the farm for the next 36 years. Our customers were mainly timber mills and agriculture for 15 years, adding electrical transmission when the SEC privatised. I married Anne in 1991 and we have four children. Two live in Swifts Creek, one works in Edinburgh, Scotland and our daughter is training to become a vet at JCU Townsville. My mother lives next door and we have two grandchildren living in Swifts Creek. The East Gippsland roots are growing deeper. Service to our community is a big part of our life. I attended my first fire at 15 and have been in the CFA since. I was on school council the whole time my children were at school, and president for 12 years. I am a life member of Swifts Creek Football-Netball Club, and president of Swifts Creek Recreation Reserve. As residents of East Gippsland, we need a strong local voice that will actually advocate for our community and be able to deliver. A vote for me will give East Gippsland a bigger voice this electoral term, and give our electorate more power going forward.

Can you help us?

Our hardworking Auxiliary will again provide a gift wrapping service in the lead-up to Christmas and they need some volunteers. Gift wrapping will take place at the Gippsland Centre, Sale from 12 - 24 December from 9.30am – 3.30pm. Volunteer casually for an hour or two, or lock in some days and times every week. Any support will be greatly appreciated. Contact Community Networks and Volunteer Support Officer, Kelly Morris, on 5143 8380.

Ricky Muir., Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party. Nissa Ling, Greens.

Photos: Contributed

Ricky Muir: Shooters, Fishers and Farmers

I AM a self-employed Gippsland-based saw miller and former federal senator who was born and raised in the Gippsland East electorate. I am a husband and father of five and have a passion for protecting our rural and region lifestyle for generations to come. I am an avid lover of all forms of outdoors recreation, and stand firm in the belief that public land is for the public and should not be locked up into undermanaged and underfunded state and national parks. I would like to see the government return to the targets of the 2009 Black Saturday Bushfires Royal Commission, and to also ensure that firewood collection in state forests is made far more accessible and integrated into bushfire management strategies. With passion I will fight to overturn the government’s decision to end native timber harvesting by 2030, and the restrictions bringing timber towns to their knees! I aim to re-introduce our farm invasions bill, imposing harsher penalties for activists who trespass on farms, logging coupes and hinder legal activities. A safe seat will see little change, but a marginal seat will reap the benefits. Nissa Ling: Greens

YOUR vote is powerful. The Greens will push the next government to tackle the climate crisis and make housing more affordable for everyone. Don’t let the old parties take you for granted. The Greens will hold them to account. To tackle the climate crisis we need to replace coal and gas with 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030, but the coalition and Labor are backing more coal and gas. To tackle the housing crisis, we need to end the special treatment for big property developers. Rents are now rising three to four times faster than wages, and many people are locked out of owning a home of their own. The Greens will build more affordable homes, end out-of-control rent rises, and ban political donations from property developers.

Sally Court, Animal Justice Party. Ed Barnes, Freedom Party.

Sally Court: Animal Justice Party

I WILL bring a lifetime of experience and knowledge to our Parliament on behalf of the people of Gippsland East. My experience includes tutoring First Nations children in Cairns, varied manual work, and 20 years in the public service including Social Security, Taxation, Child Support, and 12 years as a contract manager with the Defence Department throughout Australia. I intend to be a strong and informed voice to create a healthy and cohesive community that is safe, inclusive and productive for animals, people, and our stunning East Gippsland environment and beyond. Ed Barnes: Freedom Party

G’DAY I’m Ed from the Freedom Party of Victoria and after a tumultuous couple of years, I find myself running for the seat of Gippsland East. The last few years have been hard on us all, but these tough times have really opened my eyes and made it abundantly clear that we need change. We need strong representatives to boldly speak up, people who will make decisions based on what’s best for the people of this region - not just the large corporations. I have lived in Gippsland my whole life, and strongly believe that we need country people who understand our unique and diverse needs, to be the ones who make the decisions for our regional and rural communities. We need to lower the cost of living with a reliable base-load power supply underpinned by gas and coal resources. I support a sustainable timber industry, looking after our farmers and protecting the local food supply. As a young man, I’m worried about where our current system and policies are taking us, so I’m facing those challenges head-on and taking on the fight for our freedoms and common sense policies. Carl John Fechner: Family First Victoria

NO response received.

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