Vol. No. Vol. 2118No. 14 27
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Wednesday, 2016 Wednesday,January October13, 3, 2018
ACE EXPERIENCE: Horsham’s Kinsman family, from left, Michelle, Alex, Asher and Henry, will hop on their bikes for a good cause on Saturday when they participate in the 2018 Arapiles Cycling Event. The ‘ACE ride’ raises money for the Wimmera Drug Action Taskforce. Story, page 5. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Independent stands A
BY DEAN LAWSON
belief that far western Victoria is caught in an unproductive perpetual political cycle is a primary reason why Barry Shea, of Horsham, has put his name down as an independent candidate for Lowan.
Mr Shea, 63, a former career police officer, said in confirming his candidacy for the November State Election, that party politics had failed dismally to deliver appropriate services to the region and it was time for change. He said he saw glaring examples of where politics came before people and need, none more so than what he
considered a lack of progress in the Wimmera getting adequate passenger rail services. “I am not aligned or affiliated with any political party or organisation. In my view the electorate has gained little from government, simply because it is a very safe National party seat, with 70 percent of the vote,” he said. “I also think people are more savvy and these days, unlike the past when they always voted Liberal or Labor or National ‘because their parents did’, are more inclined to make up their own minds to get the best deal.” Mr Shea grew up in Ararat, where he completed an agricultural course before joining police cadets as a teenag-
er. His career as a front-line operations police officer at metropolitan and regional stations spanned 36 years. He transferred to Horsham from Melbourne as a sergeant in 1986 and has since lived in the Wimmera capital where he and his wife raised their family. He left Victoria Police in 2008. Mr Shea said he had become frustrated with the extent of political pork barrelling occurring in swinging seats and a general disrespect that parliament seemed to have for the average person. “They can put any spin they like on it, but have a look at our neighbours in the electorate of Ripon held by the Liberals’ Louise Staley. It is a very
marginal seat with less than one percent swing needed to change,” he said. “They have received a new rail line between Ararat and Maryborough and a promise by the Liberal-National party to extend passenger rail and upgrade stations from Maryborough through to Dunolly, St Arnaud and Donald at a cost of $32-million dollars. “What transport promises does Lowan get? Funding for a business case to examine the extension of VLine train services to Horsham and Hamilton. Fair dinkum give me a break. “What a joke and insult to say these towns are more important than Horsham and Hamilton.
“What has happened with the Grampians and Barwon South West Region Passenger Services Cost and Feasibility Study commissioned by eight councils across the region? “This 114-page report tabled in March last year is comprehensive and found a need for passenger rail and recommended it be returned to Horsham and Hamilton. “On the other side of the coin the Andrews Labor government, which said it would govern for all Victorians, has given us very little because everything revolves around metropolitan Melbourne – unless it is in a marginal seat.” Continued page 3
IN THIS ISSUE • Support for water projects • Horsham Show success • Volleyballers at state championships
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