Active agenda for MP

By Laura Wakely and
HEALTH, growth and keeping the Baillieu Government on their toes are all on the agenda for Federal McEwen MP Rob Mitchell.
ALP member, Mr Mitchell was joined by Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan at the opening of his High St office in Wallan last week.
“It’s a great honour to be elected,” Mr Mitchell told the crowd, which included Yan Yean MP Danielle Green, ex-Seymour MP Ben Hardman and Mitchell Shire mayor Graeme Coppel.
“It’s a new beginning and a new challenge.” Mr Swan said Mr Mitchell’s victory in McEwen had enabled Labor to form government.
“Winning the seat in the circumstances that Rob won this seat is a really formidable achievement,” Mr Swan said.
Both politicians admitted the growth in McEwen was a challenge.
“People want services and they want them quickly so it’s really up to us to make sure we’re getting our fair share of Federal funding,” Mr Mitchell said.
“But a lot of it falls to State Government service delivery.”
Mr Swan said only “time will tell” whether or not the relationship with the Baillieu Government will be positive, but he said political differences should be set aside.
“We’re keen to co-operate with the State,” Mr Swan said.
“We just want to get things done in this local community.”
Although Healesville won’t have the benefit of a local office any more, Mr Mitchell said residents in Healesville, Yarra Glen, Warburton and Yarra Junction won’t be left out.
“I have 85 communities to look after, and we will work out after Christmas how to do this properly,” he said.
“We have a toll free number so lots of people call us with issues, and we will tee up times in different communities to keep regular contact with the areas.”
Mr Mitchell said he hoped the Baillieu Government would follow through with their promises, but was skeptical.
“Expectations have been built very high and I need to know they won’t be left deflated without it, same with what we’ve promised,” he said.
Mr Mitchell said public transport was a massive issue in Healesville, and he wants to find out how to make that better.
“At the moment we have to wait until the State Government plans come out before we figure out our moves,” he said.
“Next year will be pretty big, we’ll see how it goes – it will be interesting to see how Yarra Glen goes with their $5 million streetscape money.”
He also said there would have to be a total redevelopment of roads in McEwen eventually, but that it would be at a “phenomenal” cost.
Mr Mitchell said he was also concerned about the “strain on the pockets of the community” if the Baillieu Government goes ahead with its plans to implement all 67 of the Royal Commission’s recommendations.
He said he didn’t believe governments should push the pace of bushfire survivors’ recovery, but have an “open door” when people were “ready”.