This week marks the last of the Federal Election campaign.
On Saturday 2 July, voters around the country will head to the polls to decide which party will lead the country forward over the coming three years.
The Mail reached out to the six candidates for the Casey electorate, with questions to help inform voters about their local choices ahead of the election weekend.
These answers have been edited to fit the Mail’s editorial style.
The candidates
Click each candidate’s image to read what they have to say.
Candidates are listed in the order they appear on the ballot paper.
Dr Elissa Sutherland – The Greens
Kristin Bacon – Animal Justice Party
Hovig Melkonian – Labor
Peter Charleton – Independent
Tony Smith – Liberal
Angela Dorian – Rise Up Australia
Dr Elissa Sutherland, 43
The Australian Greens
1. What’s your history in the Casey area?
I’ve lived locally for 12 years – Olinda is my home. I’m working in the community to improve bus services in the Dandenongs and Yarra Ranges, and lobbying for frequent solar/electric buses along busy main routes. Through our three children I’ve chaired the Parent Committee of our Children’s Centre, written grant applications and volunteered for our primary school and kindergarten. I’m part of a network of locals who visit people in detention who are seeking asylum, which has also influenced my decision to run for Casey. I support creatives, community gardens, food co-ops and community radio in my area.
2. What issues do you think are the most important for this area, in terms of the upcoming election?
We have serious inequality in Casey that must be tackled. We need to focus on transitioning to a clean energy sustainable economy, and supporting business with a decent NBN and mobile network to enhance local tourism opportunities. Inadequate services can make Casey feel like regional Australia. Remaining a safe seat has not attracted funding in the past – but if recent promises are any indication, this situation might change.
3. What projects or initiatives would you bring to the electorate, if your party wins government on 2 July?
– Monthly meet-ups to discuss community issues – I will listen and represent your concerns.
– Transparency in assessing infrastructure to make Casey thrive, e.g. mobile phone towers, NBN, public transport, electric charging stations.
– Help to access Federal grants for Casey communities, including household renewables, storage, innovation, small business and schools.
– Reverse the Medicare GP rebate freeze, add dental cover and fund the Gonski education reforms.
– $370M to double the number of local firefighters.
– Funding for the Great Forest National Park to create 10,000 new jobs and a transition plan to support forestry workers.
– Funding for Eastern Community Legal Centre and Safe Family law programs.
– Tightening rules on donations to political parties.
– Engage with local Wurundjeri people to close the gap on health, education, employment and housing – and discuss constitutional recognition and treaty.
– Fully fund Safe Schools and legislate for marriage equality.
– Work to build social housing and pilot shared equity housing – and a 30 per cent increase in rent support.
– Remove negative gearing and CGT concessions to make houses homes, instead of investments – saving $119 billion over five years.
– Lift income support to pensioners and the Disability Support Pension, increase Newstart and the Youth Allowance by $55pw, and increase single parent payments.
4. What would you like to see change in the Casey area in the coming three years?
I’d like to see an already strong and resourceful community extend our compassion to those who are doing it tough. I’d like to see more affordable and social housing, a thriving community with a 20 per cent increase in local jobs, and significant investment in public transport. A FTTP NBN and the mobile phone towers promised long ago are essential for businesses and households.
5. Why should residents in Casey vote for you on 2 July?
Good government needs people who are in politics for the right reasons. We need ethical leadership on climate change, refugees – and transitioning to a sustainable economy. My background in business, law, economics geography, university lecturing and community volunteering, qualify me to represent the people of Casey and work to restore integrity in politics and your faith in our parliament.
[ Back to list of candidates ]
Kristin Bacon, 39, Animal Justice Party
1. What’s your history in the Casey area?
I have been very active in raising awareness about the issues that affect animals both locally and globally. From 1080 baiting in our own forests, to animal agriculture, to the live export trade. I find one of the most effective ways to do this is through leafletting or running stalls at the many wonderful markets throughout the area. Talking to people one on one in a relaxed setting is a very powerful way of reaching individuals and delving deep into discussions about issues that affect us all. I have met so many wonderful people who have opened their hearts to me, expressing their deep sadness about the way animals are treated in this country and I have helped many make change in their daily choices through vegan education, to ensure their negative impact on animals and the environment we all share is reduced significantly. It’s very rewarding to know you are helping people to live kinder lives.
2. What issues do you think are the most important for this area, in terms of the upcoming election?
Stronger environmental protections that will stop the push for intensive animal production systems on green wedge zones in its tracks, drastic improvements to our public transport system to cater better to the needs of residents and visitors, effective management of introduced species, faster rollout of the NBN to drive local business and economy, research and development into creating more sustainable and productive horticulture systems, innovation in clean energy solutions, needs-based education, maintaining the right to universal health care and encouraging both medical professionals and the community to focus on prevention of disease over management through plant-based nutritional science and exercise initiatives.
3. What projects or initiatives would you bring to the electorate, if your party wins government on 2 July?
I see so much potential for this area to become a real statement in clean, cruelty-free and sustainable living. The stunning surrounds almost demand it and the best part is the foundations are already there. We have residential areas surrounded by national parks, wine regions, horticulturists, nurseries, restaurants and cafes. More support for local plant-based growers to produce food in abundance in ways that have minimal negative environmental impacts and whose produce we need for survival while helping animal agriculture systems transition into plant-based farming. This would make a huge statement to the world that we are serious about reducing our environmental impact and standing against the unnecessary cruelty we inflict on animals. Let’s replace the romanticising of killing encouraged by terms such as ‘paddock to plate’ by supporting plant growers to diversify their farms to take visitors, run educational tours and even incorporate service industries of ‘pick to plate’. In an environment such as ours, we should have a greater focus on sustainable eco-tourism. We can also do much better in the ways we manage introduced species by investing in long-term non-lethal solutions over short-term violent Band-Aid actions. Initiatives to support more work from home or in communal spaces will nurture and grow businesses within the local community and encourage collaborative efforts among individuals. My dream is the creation of an all ages not-for-profit hub that offers a space for activists and artists to gather, host screenings, host special guest presentations, network, create think-tanks, entertain, eat, create and educate all within the bounds of projects that aim for better outcomes for animals, humans and the environment we share. Support for wildlife carers and the establishment of funded sanctuaries that operate solely in the interests of the animals.
4. What would you like to see change in the Casey area in the coming three years?
We need an immediate ban on the use of 1080 baiting. This abhorrently cruel poison makes animals suffer a slow and excruciating death. It is not target-specific, has no antidote and is capable of leaching into waterways as has happened in New Zealand. It is considered a potential weapon of mass destruction and has been banned in most countries yet Parks Victoria lay this toxin all throughout this region. Deer killing can also end with the implementation of successful non-lethal solutions that already exist overseas. I’d also like to see a greater move towards plant-based initiatives from growers to the hospitality sector. There is a strong demand for vegan establishments that is only going to grow and we as a region can very quickly become a leading part this transition towards kindness. A completed rollout of the NBN and improved mobile networks. Educational initiatives that nurture kindness and tolerance of all beings irrelevant of race, sexuality, gender, age, ability and species.
5. Why should residents in Casey vote for you on 2 July?
As a representative in federal parliament, I consider all of the above essential to a healthy, functioning, kind and sustainable planet. I am not interested in business as usual and know we need a shift in the way we think, behave and operate if we are to face the challenges of climate destabilisation, mental and physical health, an ever-growing gap between rich and poor, and the impacts on the trillions of other animals with who we share this planet. Unlike all other parties, the AJP is not scared to address the devastating impacts of animal agriculture as the leading cause of most environmental destruction out of fear of losing votes. The matter is urgent and can no longer be ignored. Recognising and working towards a future in low-impact practices and a digital economy will ensure we create a planet that is rich, diverse and thriving.
[ Back to list of candidates ]
Hovig Melkonian, 26
Labor
1. What’s your history in the Casey area?
I am an engineer by trade. I grew up in Gladysdale and I went to school in Yarra Junction. I spent much of my youth working on the family farm and volunteering for festivals, sports clubs and community projects around our area.
2. What issues do you think are the most important for this area, in terms of the upcoming election?
My top 3 issues for this area are:
– NBN fibre and mobile blackspots. The Yarra Valley desperately needs more communications infrastructure to support residents and local jobs.
– Education. Swinburne Lilydale was closed on Tony Smith’s watch: I will always stand up for families and students in the Yarra Valley.
– Mental health and suicide prevention. Casey has one of the highest suicide rates in the country. Healthcare facilities in the Yarra Valley are under strain and underfunded.
3. What projects or initiatives would you bring to the electorate, if your party wins government on 2 July?
A Shorten Labor government will invest more in broadband fibre in the Yarra Valley and build new mobile base stations in Reefton, Chum Creek, Kalorama and Mount Evelyn. I will advocate for emerging industries to base themselves in the Yarra Valley, like advanced manufacturing and medical technology. And I will work for a regional suicide prevention project in the electorate.
4. What would you like to see change in the Casey area in the coming three years?
The Yarra Valley is full of potential – but we’ve been held back by a lack of investment in communications infrastructure, education and healthcare. In the coming three years I’d like to see a government that helps new local businesses and households reach their full potential.
5. Why should residents in Casey vote for you on 2 July?
I will be a strong advocate for the Yarra Valley. I’m not afraid to take a stand on hard issues: supporting residents when services are cut or fighting for more education and hospital funding.
[ Back to list of candidates ]
Peter Charleton, 42
Independent Candidate
What’s your history in the Casey area?
As a child l spent a lot of my school holidays and many weekends in the area. My grandparents owned a property in Healesville and my grandfather trained a couple of racehorses. I spent many early mornings with Pa and his horses at the Yarra Glen race track.
In recent times, (about 2.5 years ago) I moved to Dixons Creek with my partner and two young children. So many things in the area do bring back some wonderful memories, but by golly the place has changed from what l remember as a kid.
Earlier this year, l started what l call a free jumping castle service, Yarra Ranges, Maroondah and Knox. Basically, l offer to deliver and setup a commercial grade jumping castle for families holding events and parties and l do this absolutely free of charge and free from catches. This has proven to be so popular that l had to source an additional jumping castle.
2. What issues do you think are the most important for this area, in terms of the upcoming election?
There are many important issues facing Australia as a nation. Obviously health, education, jobs, security and the budget deficits are of critical importance to us all. In terms of local type issues, mobile phone coverage is more than just a problem for business; it is a genuine safety concern in the event of bushfires, accidents and medical emergencies. Most of us have a mobile phone, but what is the point of having a mobile if you cannot use it? There are too many black spots in the electorate which put lives at risk. New phone towers are a high local priority.
We also need to drastically improve the quality and speed of the internet in our electorate. While some have slogans of “Jobs and growth” it would seem to me that our current second rate internet service is costing jobs and restricting growth.
I would also like to see more Federal Government investment into roads and infrastructure for the region. When l talk about roads, l am also referring to the many gravel roads in the electorate which become unsafe or inaccessible for some motorists after rain. I would like to see more bitumen in place of the loose gravel and slippery clay that too many in the area are forced to drive on, on a daily basis.
3. What projects or initiatives would you bring to the electorate, if your party wins government on 2 July?
Should l be fortunate enough to win the seat of Casey, l would introduce a phone app which would enable the people of Casey to express their views on many matters that come before the parliament.
I would hold regular community forums and get-togethers to ensure l am available, approachable and obtaining feedback as to the needs and concerns of the community.
I would continue to provide the free jumping castle service on the basis that while away (in Canberra) l would hire staff from my own salary to ensure the free community service is always available and when l am in the electorate l would deliver the jumping castle myself and in doing so ensure l am getting direct feedback from the people l wish to represent.
I would push hard for new mobile towers as a matter of urgency, I would push for more funding/grants to assist in the better resourcing of the CFA as well as numerous community groups and organisations who do a marvellous job of filling the void left by government.
l would also like to encourage everyone in the community to help look after one another. I would like to have an awards day in which l would invite people to nominate those who they believe deserve recognition for their efforts within the community.
4. What would you like to see change in the Casey area in the coming three years?
Perhaps l am dreaming, but it would be great to see a reduction in road/traffic congestion along Canterbury Road, Dorset Road, Maroondah Highway, etc.
I would like to see faster and more reliable internet services, and mobile phone black spots become a thing of the past.
It would also be great to see more community events and initiatives which encourage people to become involved with the community, grow friendships and ultimately look out for one another.
Generally speaking, change is always occurring and in so many different ways. I would like to see change as being a positive and beneficial thing, in other words allow and embrace positive change and restrict/prevent change that may not be in the community’s best interests.
5. Why should residents in Casey vote for you on 2 July?
l am “NOT” a politician, nor had l ever aspired to become one. I am a typical, every day, garden variety member of the public who has had a gutful of government and politicians in general.
As an Independent Candidate, l am not owned by a party, nor am l controlled by donors, unions or lobby groups. I answer only to the people of Casey, as such l would be a true representative of the electorate.
I would introduce a phone app to enable the people of Casey to provide their position on many important issues that come before parliament, thus allowing me to follow through on what the electorate want and expect of me.
I am on a mission to revolutionise the manner in which many politicians go about their business, and l aim to become the people’s politician.
When a question is asked l would answer that question openly, honestly and directly (Not dance around the question and ramble on about something totally irrelevant).
I would take the concerns, needs and issues of my communities seriously and provide a strong voice in parliament for the people l represent.
I would make sure my expenditures were listed on my own website to make it easier for people to know what expenses l may have claimed and precisely what it was for. I would exert pressure on other politicians to ensure they are not abusing the system and excessively spending taxpayer dollars.
I would not fly back and forth to Canberra, instead l would drive myself and while taking the six-plus hour road trip l would ensure my mobile was charged up, hands free was operational and invite the people l represent to telephone me directly to discuss their issues and concerns.
By standing as an Independent candidate, l am enabling voters to send a message via the ballot box that we as a community are not happy with the recent performances of government and/or politicians.
Every vote for me will be a kick up the backside for the major parties.
[ Back to list of candidates ]
Tony Smith, 48
Liberal
1. What’s your history in the Casey area?
Pam and I moved here just after I was elected in 2001. We live in Chirnside Park with our two boys (and two cheeky dogs).
2. What issues do you think are the most important for this area, in terms of the upcoming election?
I believe it is important to implement the policies that will grow our local economy and deliver more jobs. This means cutting tax and improving incentives for our local small businesses, continuing with our export trade deals that are opening huge growth opportunities for our local export businesses and helping to foster our tourism sector.
3. What projects or initiatives would you bring to the electorate, if your party wins government on 2 July?
I have pledged $8 million to tackle traffic congestion at the Dorset Road/Maroondah Highway intersection that is so often a car park and $20 million to add a new outbound lane on Canterbury Road from Bayswater North to Montrose where the roundabout will be replaced with lights.
I have also announced that a re-elected Turnbull Government will spend $420,000 to install state-of-the-art CCTV security cameras in Yarra Glen, Woori Yallock, Mount Evelyn, Mooroolbark and Monbulk to combat crime, and provide the funds to enable the construction of four new mobile phone towers in Kalorama, Chum Creek, Mount Evelyn and Reefton to improve mobile coverage.
I have pledged a $600,000 federal contribution for the construction of a new pavilion at the Monbulk Recreation Reserve, and a $500,000 contribution for the construction of a new state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence at the AFL’s Eastern Ranges Kilsyth Recreation Reserve base, which will benefit 33 junior and senior clubs and establish an AFL Youth Girls Academy.
While football is important, I have for a long time felt our netballers deserve better facilities. This is why I have pledged a $140,000 contribution for two new multipurpose netball courts and lighting at Coldstream, where the netballers currently train on substandard tennis courts, as well as $140,000 contribution for lighting for the two netball courts at Don Road Recreation Reserve in Healesville and Montrose Recreation Reserve.
These initiatives, combined with $400,000 for two Green Army teams to work on the Yarra Valley Rail Trail and Healesville and Coldstream’s natural reserves, as well as $300,000 for a feasibility study into developing the Coldstream Recycled-water Pipeline, demonstrates my commitment to delivering a stronger and safer community and a stronger local economy.
4. What would you like to see change in the Casey area in the coming three years?
I want to continue to work with our local community to build on what we’ve achieved together and deliver a stronger and safer community and a stronger local economy with more jobs and opportunities.
5. Why should residents in Casey vote for you on 2 July?
If the community re-elects me as their representative, I will work as hard as I possibly can on their behalf. I always have and always will. If elected, I will deliver on each and every local initiative I have promised as have always done. As well as backing the Malcolm Turnbull’s plan for a strong new economy with guaranteed funding for health, education and roads, and a sustainable responsible budget, I am the only candidate who has outlined a strong, costed and comprehensive local plan for our electorate.
[ Back to list of candidates ]
Angela Dorian, 52
Rise Up Australia
1. What’s your history in the Casey area?
A few years ago, my husband and I had a coffee shop near the Casey electorate. We had a prayer group; several people were from that electorate. We could see back then that all politics was becoming extremely money focused and more common people with simple values were being ignored. Their rights trampled on, due to the local councils and governments so focused on revenue and financial increase.
2. What issues do you think are the most important for this area, in terms of the upcoming election?
N/A
3. What projects or initiatives would you bring to the electorate, if your party wins government on 2 July?
We believe that financial blessing is important but not more important than people’s safety. We have returned here to remind the electorate, that prior to pokies coming in and prior to the liquor licenses going so excessive, there was a great deal less domestic violence and homelessness.
This is based on the statistics. A society really only receives the blessing to prosper according to how they protect their most frail and vulnerable. This is statistically proven through history. No society has ever functioned prosperously and successfully once they focus on greed.
They all fall apart when they become greedy. For example the Safe Schools Programs. Victoria mothers and fathers have no say in their child’s introduction into sexual matters, it is currently compulsory to have your child subjected to Safe Schools Program where teachers teach cross dressing is OK, the programs also introduce children to penis tucking and breast binding, that’s just a couple of things.
The Federal Government stopped the Safe Schools Marxist Program when they discovered that they were showing pornography to minors without the parents’ consent. However the state Labor governments, Vic, QLD and NSW have re-funded the programs as a protest against the federal Liberal government. Politics is more important to them than children. The education department needs to be investigated until they find the perpetrators, then they need to be prosecuted and jailed.
So I am standing as no other party will stop this paedophilic program. So give a voice to the children. Stop this violation of parents’ rights and psychological paedophilia. Vote 1 Rise Up Australia. Put the majors last. Please visit our website for other policies such as no sharia law.
4. What would you like to see change in the Casey area in the coming three years?
N/A
5. Why should residents in Casey vote for you on 2 July?
N/A
[ Back to list of candidates ]
