Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen 13 November 2015 by Baw Baw Citizen

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Nilma Primary's restored honour board rededicated in school assembly. Story on Page 10.

Baw Baw ward shakeÂup proposed By William Kulich BAW BAW // AFTER months of consultation with the shire and community the Victorian Electoral Commission handed down its recommended ward structure for Baw Baw on Wednesday, and some councillors are not happy. The representation review suggests Baw Baw move from its present four ward structure to a three ward plan with the same number of councillors. Presently the wards are Warragul (three councillors), Drouin (two councillors), North (two councillors) and Mount Worth (two councillors. If adopted by the state govern-

ment, the new Baw Baw structure at the next election will consist of Central (three councillors covering Warragul), West (three councillors covering Drouin and towns roughly north and south of it) and East (three councillors covering the rest of the shire, including Trafalgar, Yarragon, Neerim South and Noojee). The changes are the first since 2007 when Baw Baw moved from nine single councillor wards to its present structure. Each of the three new wards would have around 12,000 voters. But it is not the number of electors which has some councillors concerned, but the size of the East

ward and how that affects representation. While Central will cover an area of 66 square kilometres and West an area of 669.5, East will cover a massive 3,289.83 square kilometres. "I'm not happy with it," present Mount Worth ward councillor Peter Kostos told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen. If Cr Kostos stands at the next election it is likely he would stand for East ward. "The whole thing's based on population, so they've tweaked Warragul a little bitâ&#x20AC;Ś the West ward which includes Drouin, once again with three councillors, is [the same] population-wise, but it is still a small Story continues on Page 4

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WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN 路 13 NOVEMBER 2015

New reflection place

NEWS

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About WBBC Formerly The Warragul Citizen Edition number: 35 Editor, designer, owner: William PJ Kulich editor@warragulcitizen.com PO Box 1111 Warragul, VIC, 3820 The editor takes responsibility for political comment in this paper. Articles, graphics and photos without author credits are by the editor. Please support advertisers who support WBBC. Email tip-offs to the editor.

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DARNUM // A LARGE group of people gathered in Darnum on Sunday morning for the unveiling of the area's new war memorial. The new memorial is the result of a push by locals involved with the Darnum Progress Association to establish a remembrance point outside the Darnum Memorial Hall. The town's original memorial is bordered by the freeway and another major road, which created noise and safety problems. Federal funding for the construction of the new memorial was achieved and construction work began earlier this year with the oversight of the progress association and the Baw Baw Shire Council. Association president Mark Sage told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen the project would not have happened if the community had not pushed for the project. "It's the result of probably 12 plus months of hard work and I'm really just the mouthpiece, it's the community doing it for themselves largely," he said. "[Local] Irene Broadbent here is a stalwart of the community, she's the glue that stuck all the parts together, so it's a very pleasing outcome. "We're well supported by various businesses in the community that are always keen to make a contribution, and we're grateful for that." Baw Baw mayor Debbie Brown also talked of the community's drive for the new memorial's construction. "You can see the power of community," Cr Brown told those who attended the unveiling. "You wanted this from the first thought to what we've got today and it's absolutely beautiful. This is what communities can do." State and federal MPs spoke at the event. Narracan Liberal MP Gary Blackwood acknowledged the community's sacrifices for war. "I just can't imagine what it would've been like to have been sitting here in Darnum knowing that your son or daughter is overseas fighting in a war that was somebody else's in most cases," Mr Blackwood said. "We have to remember the sacrifices made by families as well as those who lost their lives and those who gave so much in those very sad years. "100 years (since World War I) is a long time, but is seems to go very quickly when you think back and see how far we have come in that 100 years as a country and also as a community. The changes that have occurred in Darnum over that time have been enormous. But the important thing is we have been able to make that change in a way that suits us as a community, and I think that's the legacy we honour today; the opportunity to live as a community in safety, to raise our children." McMillan Liberal Russell Broadbent reflected on the role memorials play in communities. "This morning as I drove up, knowing I might have to say something to you, I couldn't help but be struck by the challenge this presents to all of us, these memorials and why they're here - massive disturbance to community to the tune of thousands and thousands of people," he said. "We stand here in Darnum as part of the Baw Baw community 100 years [on] knowing that the empty chairs over there and the empty spaces around here would've been filled by people we actually knew who had died and whose families have been broken up and destroyed. "I've spoken often in the parliament about the grief that has extended over those 100 years, of three generations, which is still with us today. This unveiling today... reminds every family of what our families went through in the first, second world wars and subsequent wars." Students from Darnum Primary School sang the national anthem at the end of the ceremony.

Above: Gary Blackwood, Irene

Broadbent, Russell Broadbent and Debbie Brown with Darnum Primary School students Mia and Ashlee.

Left: Darnum-Ellinbank CFA members laying a wreath at the end of the unveiling ceremony. Photos: William PJ Kulich

More: find the full photo gallery online at warragulcitizen.com.

13 NOVEMBER 2015 · WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN

Arts Centre plan approved BAW BAW // COUNCILLORS have approved a significant redevelopment plan for the West Gippsland Arts Centre, but funding remains uncertain. The redevelopment will see the seating capacity of the centre's theatre increased from the present 480 seats to 750, a new foyer to the south side of the auditorium and other new foyers to access the rear stalls and balcony, and the reorientation of the entrance to better connect with neighbouring Civic Park. Also on the to-do list is disability act compliant accessible wheelchair spaces and lift, changes to the café location, new meeting and function spaces for hosting major and minor conferences, and improvements to technical and backstage facilities. According to a report to councillors prepared by Baw Baw staff, the redevelopment would be financially achievable if grants from state and federal governments are achieved and community fundraising takes place. The total cost of the redevelopment has been estimated at $11.5 million, but is considered by councillors to be worthwhile. "This is something that is very important to our community," Warragul ward councillor Mikaela Power said on moving the approval motion on Wednesday. Cr Power emphasised the Arts Centre's role in introducing young people to the stage and their first jobs, suggesting an expansion could keep artistic youth in the region. "We have a group of young people who leave, they go that way (to Melbourne) and don't come back," Cr Power said. "It's an alternative to Macca's, and often something they have experience of in school through shows, so they don't have that leap into employment."

Drouin ward's Tricia Jones also spoke highly of the WGAC's role in the community, but stressed the financial side of the project must be kept in check. "Council has for a few years discussed its redevelopment [and] until recently very little has changed save for the new seating and refurbished wash rooms," Cr Jones said. "People would like to know how much we are going to spend and is it going to be thoughtfully spent. "Fundraising was done (for the original build of the centre) in the 1970s and will be done again. I understand the 1970s campaign didn't reach the desired goal; it is a concern to me and I would be seeking some kind of capping on council funding." Mount Worth ward councillor Peter Kostos was more optimistic about community fundraising, saying a raffle campaign in Sydney to cover a hundred-thousand dollar shortfall for the Sydney Opera House's construction "paid for the project in 18 months." Warragul ward's Joe Gauci said the redevelopment could be "very economically sound" and talked up the arts centre's role as "an icon in the town" while acknowledging some changes would be made. The design for the redevelopment had been studied by an independent analysis group which determined there was a strong business case for the project. "We've tried to keep the original design and shape which is unique," he said. "There might be some changes to the concept." Support for the project at the meeting did not just come from councillors, and not just from Warragul. During public submis-

sions four people spoke in favour of the redevelopment, including Trafalgar Community Development Association president David Lyons. "The TCDA did write in (when the redevelopment was first proposed) and say yes, we're keen, we're going to contribute," Mr Lyons said. "It's as important to us as the Trafalgar Recreation Reserve and swimming pool. "It's an important part of our community, even if it isn't in our community. Dance eisteddfods, youth theatre and school productions are all held there. An increase in seating as proposed will assist those kinds of productions. "The arts centre allows all residents of all ages to access music and comedy acts. The facility also supports conference events, and I know, working for Trafalgar High School, I've brought students with disabilities out here for expos. "A vibrant community increases employment, and I have seen that happening. Improved job opportunities will come out of this - for some young people their first jobs are as ushers or in the café. The reorientation of the centre to be a part of the civic park precinct. I think that will really open up the area, and we already know how busy it is with the arts market and farmers' market." While Mr Lyons put the emphasis on youth, another submitter, John Parker, said an expansion of the centre was important for Baw Baw's ageing population. "This project is an important next step for our community," he said. "The Baw Baw Shire would have had something less than 2,000 people aged over 60 when the WGAC was built. By 2031, the aged 60 population is expected to grow to over 20,000; well within the lifespan of

this arts centre. "A redevelopment with extra access points and lift would be good I was concerned during a recent seniors' week concert that if it took so long to get the oldies in, how long would it take to get them out in an emergency? "This is in line with the shire's ageing strategy." Mounth Worth ward councillor Murray Cook was a part of the WGAC's original building committee alongside some figures key to getting the centre built. "This was the vision of the people on that committee, and Sheila Ferguson MBE. I don't think it would've been there if not for Sheila Ferguson," he said. "There was some resistance to building the original building and there was a delay of two years, which meant we got less building for the state government funding." The council officer report states several other potential benefits of the redevelopment, including the opportunity to improve the WGAC's environmental impact through modern building standards. All councillors supported the motion, as well as the next motion on the agenda - the acceptance of the draft Civic Place masterplan. The plan was put together to identify ways the precinct, which includes the WGAC and council buildings, could be improved and will inform future decisions on the site. On moving the motion to accept the draft masterplan, Cr Power emphasised the need to connect council and public spaces. "If you go out there on a warm night there will be any number of people there. It's an active space, but the WGAC is somewhat removed," Cr Power said.

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Climate march motion fails

BAW BAW // A MOTION calling on councillors to support a climate action march in Melbourne fell flat on Wednesday after being backed by just two councillors. The motion, moved by Warragul ward councillor Mikaela Power in response to a request from the Baw Baw Sustainability Network, called on councillors to support the People's Climate March, to be held in Melbourne on 27 November. Had the motion passed, the council's support would not have been monetary. The motion asked for promotion through the council's regular communication channels, encouraged councillors to participate, and would have allowed the Baw Baw Shire logo to appear on the peoplesclimate.org.au website. "The march is held all around the world," Cr Power said. "Victoria is in line to be significantly affected in terms of climate change in future, not just in temperature but also extremity of weather events." The only other councillor to vote with Cr Power was Drouin ward's Tricia Jones. All other councillors present voted against the motion. Warragul ward councillor Gerard Murphy was not at the meeting.

Beyond reason

LARDNER // COUNCIL STAFF will prepare a report after Baw Baw received a petition against the planned Beyond the Valley music festival at LardnerPark. Petitioners expressed concerns about noise, traffic and "the potential for an 'undesirable' element being attracted to the area." Councillors called for a report to be made in response to the petition. "There's a lot of discrepancies between what people have been told," councillor Joe Gauci said at the meeting. "This will hopefully be the facts on how it's to be run."

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WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN · 13 NOVEMBER 2015

Baw Baw ward shakeup proposed Continued from Page 1 ward. "East ward, with three councillors as well, takes up more than two thirds of the shire. Admittedly there's a lot of forest in that ward but in my opinion it's going to possibly be difficult to traverse the breadth of the ward. "It's very big, it's a diverse population and I don't know whether that's the best fit." Mount Worth covers the area roughly south of the freeway, which Cr Kostos said is already difficult to cover as a councillor. "It's quite a big change masswise," he said. "South of the highway... is in itself a bit of travelling, but with Trafalgar, Yarragon and Darnum being the three major towns in the ward it's a little more concentrated. "Now they're still going to have those towns in the ward, but adding a bit extra which may lead to difficulties. "I know all councillors make decisions for all the shire and do their best to assess all situations, but the theory is you could have three people living out of Lardner, Yarragon or Trafalgar who have to access all of that ward. I don't believe it's very common sense." Present North ward councillor David Balfour, who throughout the consultation process advocated for a seven ward with nine councillors structure, would also represent the East ward if he stood at the next election. He said while the size difference between North and East was not much, the changed makeup of the area would further strain regional councillors. "It looks around about the same in size and area but it has probably given another four or five different community groups to work with which is the argument I was trying to put through (to the VEC) some time ago," Cr Balfour told WBBC. "24 different community groups right across the site, and visit a few of them once a month and you're out every day in a month. It's a big task. "My original suggestion was to go back to seven (sic) wards with nine councillors. You knew the size of your ward, you knew the community groups you were working with, and you could set your agenda, but it gets quite difficult to set your monthly agenda when you have a ward this size. "It's like today (Wednesday), Rem-

embrance Day. I had a staff member ring me up and say she was going to Walhalla. She went to Walhalla and delivered a wreath, and at Erica and Rawson. She saved me 120 kilometres. I would've had to do that before I ended up at Neerim South. "Whoever takes it on has got a big job to do." Another significant change would be the abandonment of the Drouin ward in favour of the mixed town and country West ward. The Warragul ward would be largely unchanged, and would be left the only single-town ward. Drouin ward councillor Tricia Jones said she was "initially disappointed" by the review recommendation. "But I'm not totally surprised because it was part of a conversation the council was having (with the VEC)," Cr Jones told WBBC. "In terms of the broadening of Drouin, in the seven years I've been on the council I have frequented all of those places, I haven't solely focussed on Drouin. I've been in every ward and most places, not every, but a lot, so I'm not daunted by the fact it has broadened as much as it has. "That whole west area fits naturally, I do feel like it's a part of my area. Having said that, as I said originally, the Drouin ward has a very particular feel, and that's fine, that's a part of being a councillor, you just have to go with what happens. "You have to work with what the circumstances are and that's okay. People are people all over the community, all over the Baw Baw Shire, and being human you have certain types of problems and concerns. "It's fine now and it will be fine when this comes into play at the next election, that's if I'm voted in again of course." The VEC's final report on the review stated there was a push for change in Baw Baw. "The VEC recognised early in the representation review process that there was an appetite for change in Baw Baw Shire Council as the majority of submissions indicated a preference for introducing wards with a north-south orientation that incorporated a blend of rural and urban areas, with major townships separated into different wards," the report states. "Baw Baw Shire’s highly diverse geographic composition creates the possibility for a number of multicouncillor ward electoral structures,

each with their own strengths and limitations. "Using public submissions, its own research and mapping software, the VEC developed three models that met the legislative requirements for each ward: "Option A - retaining the current structure with a slightly altered ward boundary around Drouin; "Option B - retaining nine councillors but reducing wards to three, with three councillors elected to each ward; and "Option C, which included nine councillors elected from three wards, with one four-councillor ward, one three-councillor ward and one two-councillor ward. "After considering all data and public submissions, the VEC has determined that Option B is the most appropriate for Baw Baw Shire. However, as mentioned above, Option A and Option C were also regarded viable models. In the report a VEC spokesperson discussed the strengths and weaknesses of each structure, including

the size of East ward. "The issue of the large north ward under the current model (Option A) not reflecting the northsouth road corridors was overcome in Option B, with all but the uninhabited areas of Gentle Annie and Ada contained in one ward. "The VEC considered that this model balances competing communities of interest, ensuring minimal disruption to any land use based communities of interest across the mountainous north, while acknowledging the much referred to population movements between the centre of the shire and the rural areas. "Option B is less favourable in the

south than Option A, with the boundary between West Ward and East Ward running along the locality boundary of Hallora, dividing the dairy farming area in order to meet legislative requirements. However, this division of the south is less arbitrary in Option B than it is in Option C, which sees the southern part of the Shire split across three wards." The VEC received seven submissions during its review, one of which was from the Baw Baw Shire. You can read the VEC's full report online at the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen website. Visit warragulcitizen.com and search for this article.

A map prepared by the VEC showing the proposed new ward boundaries (thick black outlines) over the present ward structure. The present wards are Warragul (darkest), Drouin (next darkest), Mount Worth (next darkest) and North Ward (white). The Mount Baw Baw resort area is not a part of the Baw Baw Shire council.

Buy local it's your future

SPONSORED COLUMN

The Australian economy is winding back from manufacturing and mining and what growth there is is coming through the services sector. Towns in the Baw Baw Shire are no exception. The services sector dominates the economy. Independent retailers struggle while national chains Woolworths, Coles and Aldi fair much better. It is well documented the major supermarkets pressure their suppliers to reduce prices something independent, local businesses do not do. Education, heath, medical and dental, legal and financial, media, all levels of government and real estate sectors are still growing significantly. The participants in those sectors earn and deserve the income they receive and I would like to pose them this question: do they make a worthwhile contribution to the struggling retail sector in the shire? If local shops are failing to meet expectations please tell us. Small business minister Kelly O'Dwyer has highlighted the role small business plays in our communities. "Small businesses are the people

who actively support the local football team,” she told Fairfax media. “They are the people you go to in times of difficulty. They are the people you go to for a cup of coffee or to grab a sandwich. Small businesses are critical to the economy, providing 4.5 million jobs nationally.” We at Port Phillip Shop, 1A Barkly Street Warragul, are endeavouring to meet the challenges of the changing economy by increasing our offer to the Baw Baw community. People may not be aware of our extensive range which includes budget to luxury footwear and apparel. We have a strong emphasis on Australian made clothing and stock market leaders including R.M. Williams and Akubra as well as small independents such as Rizzi socks, Country Tradition shirts, and Merino Gold knitwear, Baxter boots, and Badgery belts. With us the Australian Made Tradition is kept alive. We are also committed to our locally run online business portphillipshop.com.au, which represents 60 percent of our revenues and without which we would have been out of

business five years ago. Our aim is to emphasise good customer service and we are committed to training young people in our business, utilising their IT skills to improve our online offer. Currently carried out by a large Queensland company, we are now utilising new local start up aspireweb.com.au, run by Matt Blacker. In our commitment to support young people in our community all our media advertising is done through the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen, run by a young man with a passionate agenda. We are also launching a new loyalty card program this week to reward local shoppers. Purchasing items from our store five times will get you a 20 per cent discount on the next purchase. Taking part in our loyalty program will also get you a free copy of our Online Special Offer email fortnightly. As Harold Mitchell said in The Age on 7 November, "we tend to forget about the local community in our constant worry about our standing in the world.”

13 NOVEMBER 2015 路 WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN

Students laying a wreath at the Drouin Remembrance Day ceremony. Photo: Jack Lacy

Students laying a wreath in Warragul at the same time. Photo: William Kulich

Tradition and turnout at Warragul ceremony WARRAGUL // IT MAY not draw the crowds Anzac Day does, but this year's Remembrance Day service in Warragul pleased Warragul RSL president Noel Tucker. On Wednesday at 11:00 the sheltered area near the town cenotaph was overflowing with people wishing to pay their respects to fallen soldiers.

Many schools and community groups laid wreaths at the cenotaph and a school choir performed the national anthem. "It's a good turnout, remembering most people don't get a day off," Mr Tucker told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen. "Yeah, we get a few oldies, but look at

the young ones here. The schools from the outer areas have taken the time to bring the kids in. We're really happy." The town's minute of silence was, as always, bookended by the siren at the Warragul Fire Station. This year the playing of the last post at the central Warragul ceremony and the bellowing of the siren from further out of town

were well synced. "It has been traditional that the fire brigade give us a minute silence," Mr Tucker said. "We've just about got it down to pat (sic) now with the two-way radio, and sometimes we can't start exactly at 11:00, but we've just about got it down to pat."

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WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN · 13 NOVEMBER 2015

FOOD

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Duck eggs something to quack about

Summer is fast approaching, and with it the season for entertaining What are your family's favourite holiday feasts? Email admin@ warragulcitizen.com and let us know - the best picks will be featured in the 11 December food section

AT THE MARKETS // We are all familiar with chicken eggs - they are a regular feature in cuisines from across the world. But duck eggs are less commonly used in Australia. WBBC caught up with Vicky Bey of Nilma North's Sherwin Park Farm at the new Darnum Musical Village market to discuss the differences. WBBC: What's the difference between chicken eggs and duck eggs? Vicky: The duck egg actually has a much bigger yolk and has a much higher vitamin content in it. So anyone on a paleo diet who's looking for that protein in their diet, this is the preferred way for them to go. When you cook with a duck egg in your cakes it will actually give you a much better sponge, a much lighter sponge as it whips up a lot better. It just takes a bit longer to whip it. Other than that, as far as eating it is concerned, it's not much different taste-wise. I think these days they're pretty much fed on the same things as chickens are so there's not a huge difference and there's no gaming flavour to it like a lot of people think. So yeah, it's basically a substitute for a chicken egg with a much higher vitamin content.

More At the Markets online Visit warragulcitizen.com and search for 'at the markets'. Subscribe to never miss a story

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WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN · 13 NOVEMBER 2015

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Bookworms dig in WARRAGUL // RAIN didn’t stop an enthusiastic group of local readers queuing on Friday morning for the Friends of the Warragul Library Book Sale. The annual sale of surplus library and donated books always attracts a crowd. Money raised goes to the library and last year brought in $700. The year before that it brought in $1,500. Organiser David Schmitt said this year’s turnout was good and the result will be known in coming weeks. "We had a good start, what was it 55 or something rushing in at the door? That’s good," he told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen. "What we’re doing is selling the

[surplus] books from the Baw Baw district libraries. Whatever they throw out each year we get to sell and they get the money. "This all goes into the library for whatever they want to use it for. They might use it for shelving or whatever else they need." A substantial number of books, over 1,000, were also donated by members of the community. Around 20 volunteers helped set up for the event at the West Gippsland Arts Centre the day before. "The non-fiction usually goes very quickly and usually by this time the children’s tables will be pretty well cleared, so yes, things are moving a bit slow in those areas this year but it’s always very

difficult to work out how you’re going until the end when you see there’s an enormous number of empty cartons." Hundreds of people attended the sale, including a teacher looking for books for her classroom, a blogger who collects cooking books for her collection and to add to her blog, and a mixed bag of other bookworms. The total number of books on sale is unknown, but the many bought by the bag will be starting their next chapter at a new home. Those which did not find a new home will be donated to the Yarragon Fire Brigade for its annual book fair fundraised. "Hopefully they don’t keep recycling," Mr Schmitt said.

Volunteers setting up the book sale.

Watch the video version of this report online Visit warragulcitizen.com and search for 'book sale'

The calm before the storm. Photos: William PJ Kulich

13 NOVEMBER 2015 · WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN

VIEW

Chris Buckingham McMILLAN //CHRISBuckingham wasselectedtobeLabor'scandidate forthefederalseatofMcMillanin Mayandhasbeencampaigningever since.WBBC'sWilliamKulich caughtupwithhimtodiscussthe budget,coalseamgas,asylum seekersandBillShorten. WBBC:How have you found the community response to your campaign? CB:Really positive. What I'm hearing is there's an appetite for change. I think the campaign is going well because we're focussing on local issues. The key local issues I'm gathering right across the electorate are concerns about employment stability, jobs for young people, pressure on household income and, I think, increasingly we'll see the GST as people come to grips with the idea maybe the GST will be increased. WBBC:Have many people approached you about the GST? CB:It's been a subject of much discussion. My sense of it is the GST as an issue for the electorate is only just starting to grasp attention. People are concerned about the impact on household income. I'm concerned about the impact it will have on consumer confidence and indeed cashflow to small business in particular in a regional economy. One of the things we've talked about before is this idea that in a region like Gippsland, when you attack for example penalty rates or minimum wage it's not just those households

Chris Buckingham will begin campaigning full time next week. Photo: William PJ Kulich

Wanttoreadmoreabout ChrisBuckingham, LiberalMPRussell BroadbentorGreens candidateDonna Lancaster? Visit warragulcitizen.com and use the search tool

with a second income that are worrying whether or not they can pay their school fees, it's also about people making decisions about whether or not they're going to go out for a meal, whether or not they're going to buy that dress for the spring carnival, or whether or not they're going to buy their kids lunch or make it that week. What we see when people in a regional economy lose confidence is actually a decline in spend, and that will impact directly on small business right across the electorate. From an economic perspective we're all in this together so when we talk about penalty rates or minimum wage or employment stability or increased tax… like the GST, what we're seeing is a potential negative impact on the economy. WBBC:Isn't the GST a non-issue at the moment given all states must agree to a change and Victoria has already indicated it wouldn't support an increase CB:What they've said is if Turnbull wins an election on that platform they won't fight it. What that means, with the federal government which is grappling with another fairly ordinary budget, is there is a very real prospect there will be an election going to be called early, in March. WBBC:Turnbull has already said the election will be in September or October next year though CB:Yes, he said that, and good luck to him. I will believe it when I see it. WBBC:You don't think the government will go to full term?

CB:I think at this stage it would be a 50/50 bet. There's only one person who can call an election and that's Malcolm Turnbull, so really we're speculating on what's going through Malcolm Turnbull's mind, however given the current state of the budget and the fact they're going to have to prep another one in May, it's not going to get any prettier for them. That they calling for tax reform now suggests to me they would much rather be going into a budget cycle in May where they actually have full control of government and they have a mandate to deliver some of their more extreme, more conservative policies. If they go to an election in March on a platform of increasing the GST then they have the capacity to set a budget in May… which would give them a lot of flexibility. Alternatively they're going to limp across the line with a hung senate, another directionless budget. I wouldn't stake my house on it, but I think there's a real possibility there will be an election in March. WBBC:How are you basing your campaign around that? If it does go full term, you would have been the preselected candidate for a very long time. CB:That's right, and what a privilege it has been so far. My plan is to go full time into campaigning from the end of next week. There's a couple of reasons for that; one is there is a massive job at hand to win back McMillan, make no bones about that, to be able to stand as the endorsed Labor party candidate in the seat is an enormous privilege and also an opportunity, and having been given this opportunity it is my responsibility to make every chance of actually winning it for Labor and the people of McMillan. WBBC:It's a big think, full time campaigning. What will you be doing? CB:I think it was Russel Howcroft from the Gruen Transfer who said the most successful candidates are the ones who visibly enjoy what they do, and expend a bit of shoe leather. So I'm planning to travel the length and breadth of the electorate over the coming months, meeting with people and organisations impacted by federal government decisions and setting an agenda out for McMillan for the coming years. WBBC:Do you think you can win at this election, or is this the groundwork for a future election? CB:I think I can win this election. With the support I have received thus far I have every reason to believe it's winnable. COALSEAMGAS WBBC:You've been attending a few of the anti-coal seam gas and nonconventional gas extraction meetings around the electorate. What are your views on that policy? CB:My view on the environment is the Gippsland region has given much to the state of Victoria and indeed to the nation in terms of productivity through agriculture, through timber, mining and energy production and indeed water, and they are the region's core strengths. But what I'm seeing across the community is a growing resistance to allowing the exploitation of our resources willynilly. That if a private company wants to come in, or indeed if government wants to profit from, the exploitation of natural resources then due diligence has to be followed through and there has to be a social license. WBBC:I ask because the rallies you have been attending are run by groups which are entirely against non-conventional gas, they say it is too much of a risk to engage in at all, whereas Federal Labor's shadow resources minister Gary Gray has said it's safe if managed correctly. It seems you are out of line with your party's policy. CB:From what I've seen and heard,

across the electorate, people are not convinced about the virtues of onshore unconventional gas. Whether it's exploring for gas or coal or gold or copper, if companies want to extract resources from our environment they have to have a set of licenses which include both an environmental license, for want of a better description, and a social license. I think that particularly in line with what happened in Morwell last year with the coal mine fire and the way the communities of the Latrobe Valley were affected, we as politicians and community leaders actually have to represent the views of our communities. WBBC:So would you consider allowing non-conventional gas where, if shown by government scientists to not be a risk to the local environment? CB:I think, Will, that that remains a hypothetical question. WBBC:But it's not a hypothetical party policy. CB:I think the Labor party's made it very clear it supports private sector investment in activity that will create employment in regions, and I happily stand by that. However, the price for the employment has to be considered and communities need to be able to have a say. WBBC:Do you think there is any acceptable price when it comes to non-conventioal gas extraction? CB:When somebody can demonstrate to me that the community is happy to have exploration take place in its backyard, that that exploration is being done responsibly, and when it comes time for full-scale extraction that water reserves, agricultural practices and natural values are not going to be hopelessly compromised, I will have a more favourable point of view. ASYLUMSEEKERS WBBC:We've talked GST and CSG, what have been the other issues people have raised with you? CB:I think the way people are being treated on Manus Island and Christmas Island remains a concern for the community. There is I think a growing concern about the lack of transparency about what's happening (in the detention centres on those islands). The Labor party has committed to ensuring people are strongly discouraged or deterred from taking that dangerous journey from Indonesia through to the Pacific Islands, and I support that, however I have growing concerns about the way the 1,600 or so people in those detention centres are being treated and the lack of transparency. We don't really know what's going on, we're finding out second hand about their (the people in the centres) conditions and how they're being treated, and I'm not sure that's a healthy situation in a democracy. WBBC:Are you concerned that the only prominent opposition voice at the moment to the government's detention centre policies is the Australian Greens? The Labor party isn't saying much. CB:I think one of the challenges we have at the moment is the Labor party is actually charting some really clear differences from a policy point of view on this issue, and indeed many others, but what the community and potentially the media is hearing is the resistance to the government agenda. So for example when it comes to asylum seekers and refugees, the Labor party's national platform is committed to doubling the intake of refugees, it's committed to properly funding and resourcing the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) so the queue (for processing of asylum claims), which doesn't exist, is established and people can be processed in a fair and reasonable way, and I think the debate in the last few days in the caucus around the future of Manus

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Labor's man in McMillan

and Christmas islands demonstrates that, while there is a diversity of views within the Labor party, that there's a very clear difference in moral stance when it comes the compassionate view in terms of what's been done in the last two years in Tony Abbott's name. WBBC:The main opposition voices to this are the Greens' Richard Di Natale and Sarah Hanson-Young, there are no strong Labor voices against the present policy in public. CB:Yep, and I think there's a big contributing factor to this and that is that… WBBC:… Labor set it up? CB:Well, in part. Labor has been in government recently and understand the terrible dilemma which goes with deterring refugees and asylum seekers and ensuring people don't drown at sea. Until you're in government and have responsibility for those people, and there's a speech you can find online made by Tony Burke at the Labor National Conference, and that for me was the compelling thing. All respect to the Greens for putting an alternative perspective, however they have not had the privilege or responsibility of being in government and making some really tough decisions, and I think that's what's tempering the leadership team in the ALP federally at the moment is that knowledge of how tough it is to watch people drowning. BILLSHORTEN WBBC:Speaking of the leadership team, do you like Bill Shorten as leader or would you rather someone else led the Labor party? CB:The thing I have observed and am proud of is the federal Labor team is united behind its leader. WBBC:But there's no real way to not be united behind him given the enormous majority which would be needed to unseat him thanks to Kevin Rudd's changes. CB:You learn from your mistakes, and I think federal Labor learnt from its mistakes when it was in government by chopping and changing the leadership. WBBC:Do you believe Bill Shorten is the right leader? CB:He is the leader. WBBC:Do you believe he is the right leader? CB:He is the right leader for the party at this time. WBBC:During the opposition years or government? CB:Look, I'm a candidate and I would be mightily annoyed if I successfully won the seat of McMillan for Labor and then someone said 'you know, Chris, we don't like the colour of your ties anymore, we're going to change you.' I think the Australian electorate, come the election, will make a decision which in part will be informed by who the leader is, but it will also be about how Labor performs as a team and also about how candidates on the ground in their communities respond to their needs. There is a number of different factors at play. WBBC:Has there been much community concern about Bill? He's not polling well, have people talked about him locally? CB:Not so much, and I think this comes back to where the campaign is at at the moment. Yes, people are concerned about federal policies at a national level, but they're also concerned about how they're impacted on on a day-to-day basis and actually, quite clearly, Abbott was probably one of the most unpopular prime ministers we've had in living memory and that was part of the narrative, but I don't think leadership on either side at this point in time provokes the same visceral response. I think who's leading the parties will have less influence on this election that if Abbott were still prime minister.

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WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN · 13 NOVEMBER 2015

Mayoral elections next week BAW BAW // COUNCILLORS will meet to decide who will lead them into the last year of the 2012-16 term next week. Councillors meet annually to elect a mayor and deputy mayor. A mayor represents councillors at major events, is a key spokesperson and has the deciding voteinhungmotionsatmeetings. For the first two years of the present council's term Mount Worth ward

councillor Murray Cook was mayor, while North Ward's Debbie Brown is mayor at the moment. A statutory meeting to decide the new mayor and deputy will be held on Wednesday 18 November at 18:00 at the council chambers, Civic Place, Warragul. A council spokesperson said members of the public will be welcome at the meeting.