This Star Mail brings you profiles from local candidates in the Eildon electorate.
Find out the party policies and what issues your candidates will be fighting for in the lead up to the Saturday 26 November election.
NAME: Jane Judd
OCCUPATION: Health Services
PARTY: Labor
Where do you live ?
I have lived in Chum Creek for 38 years. I moved to Healesville in 1986 and this is where I chose to live, work, and raise my 4 children. I am very grateful to live on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation.
Why did you decide to run for Eildon?
I was approached to run as the ALP candidate and was honoured to accept the role and I do so with a sense of pride and gratitude.
I am well informed about our community and its needs with experience as a single mother, small business operator and full-time worker. I am a qualified social worker and teacher, and like many women in the 1970’s, we owe our careers to the ALP through free tertiary education.
I have been an active community member since 1988 when we formed the Healesville Action Group Inc and successfully fought for a bus to Badger Creek estate, for additional child care, a youth group led by engaged parents (Reach Out for Kids) and a Foster Grandparent Scheme. I worked for a decade in Anglicare in Lilydale, building child and family support services and from 1999 to 2012 I had the privilege of managing Yarra Valley Community Health as the Program Director. There is unfinished business for me at the Healesville Hospital – we needed an Urgent Care Centre now. If elected, I will argue this case powerfully.
Why do you believe you’re the best candidate?
I believe after 12 years of a Liberal member; it is time for change! The Labor Government has delivered the big build, removed 85 level crossing, free TAFE, free kinder, Dying with Dignity legislation, Women’s rights – 2008 Right to Abortion and Rental Reforms. I believe my track record as a community member and though my employment demonstrated my credential and capacity to balance competing but deserving needs, to identify problems, create solutions, collaborate, and consult with community members and represent and advocate for all.
What are your party’s policies and values you stand by?
I am committed to the ALP Platform and the values for social justice and equity. I support Treaty and the vision of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, I believe climate Change is real, I reject the casualised workforce system and strongly support the human right charter, gender equity issues, increasing salaries to workers in caring professions like aged care, early years and childcare.
What are the biggest three issues in the electorate and how will you tackle them?
1. Our Environment – Emergency Management
There is a lot of anxiety about the future and what sort of planet we will leave. This motivates many to join groups keen to take action to address the challenges we face. The Flooding was unprecedented and that scared community. What next?
2. Investment in new services/community needs
The need for an Urgent Care Centre /community mental health, new childcare options to address childcare waiting lists. More affordable social housing, more funding for local infrastructure like local roads, badly impacted by sustained damage from water and freight activity.
3. Need for support to address rises in energy and cost of living expenses
The Andrews Government has addressed this head on with many initiatives – it is refreshing to see practical help. It shows great leadership and vision to bringing back the SEC. I have also linked lots of folks to the Energy Guarantee $250 rebate and the solar home program.
NAME: Chloe Bond
OCCUPATION: Lawyer
PARTY: Animal Justice Party
Where do you live?
I am a proud resident of Wesburn, a beautifully tiny town in the Yarra Valley, where I live with my husband, daughter, horses, dogs, chickens, and ducks. I moved my family here two years ago from the mountain-top town of Kalorama.
Why did you decide to run for Eildon?
My favourite things about my electorate are the animals, the people, and the natural environment. I feel firecely protective over these things and want to represent their interests before Parliament.
Why do you believe you’re the best candidate?
I believe that two of the biggest issues in politics is the lack of diversity in government and the lack of trust in our leaders. As a young woman, I am fighting for my future, my daughter’s future, and my future grandchildren’s future. I believe that by demonstrating kindness over petty politics, equality over exclusion, and integrity over dishonesty, I can earn this trust from my electorate and be the best possible candidate.
What are your party’s policies and values you stand by?
The Animal Justice Party and I advocate for the best interests of animals, people, and our planet. I am proud to represent the only political party guided by a set of core values, being kindness, equality, rationality, and non-violence.
What are the biggest three issues in the electorate and how will you tackle them?
1. Housing
I recently had the pleasure of reading the Election Platform of the Victorian Public Tenants Association which advised of the significant existing waitlist of families and individuals in need of public housing in my electorate. Both short-term and long-term solutions were addressed to reduce this waitlist. Further, they proposed to recognise the human right to housing in legislation. This will entrench Victoria as Australia’s leading jurisdiction in social housing reform.
As somebody who has experienced homelessness, I understand that appropriate housing is not always attainable. This is why I will prioritise liasing with the VPTA and other relevant organisations to ensure a safe and secure home for all people and companion animals in my electorate.
2. Transport
I encourage the growth of efficient, low carbon transport and steep reductions in private vehicles, focussing instead on public transport. My priority is to ensure that public transport is affordable, accessible, and safe for all people and companion animals. I was recently made aware of proposed changes to the existing Route 684 bus service which will adversely affect many people in my electorate, particularly the young, elderly, and those living with a disability. Not only do I condemn the proposal to reduce current services, but I stand with the people of my electorate to improve facilities along this bus line. I also rely on public transport, so to those who are disadvantaged by the current inattention to rural public transport. I see you. I am with you. I will speak up for you.
3. Protection of Native Forests
Protecting our native forests and the wildlife that live in them is a low-cost and effective method of taking real, immediate action on climate change. Trees have the amazing ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it long term – indefinitely, if left undisturbed. However, when forests are logged, this stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere. Although forests do regrow after logging, it can take centuries to re-capture the emitted carbon. We do not have centuries to wait. I therefore propose the protection of Victoria’s native forests and the introduction of plantations for all of our timber needs. With the proper investment, plantations have the ability to meet all of the country’s wood needs while retaining employment in the sector.
NAME: Cindy McLeish MP
OCCUPATION: State Member for Eildon since 2014
PARTY: Liberal
Where do you live?
I was born and went to school in Yea. I grew up on a farm and continue to farm in the district on land in Glenburn that has belonged to my family for generations.
Why did you decide to run for Eildon?
The injustice of the North South Pipeline, running from Yea to Sugarloaf, was my catalyst to stand for Parliament in 2010. I believe that the views of peri urban and regional Victorians are overlooked too often.
Why do you believe you’re the best candidate?
I am committed to the community and making the region the best place to live. I have a solid track record in advocating for the community and individuals that have been wronged and for individuals in need of assistance.
The priorities I have for the community are what makes our area all the better place to live including improving local services and community facilities and investment in industries which supports local jobs including agriculture and tourism. We need good access to services people in cities take for granted.
What are your party’s policies and values you stand by?
The Liberals and Nationals’ vision for Victoria’s future is that it is a place where aspirations can become a reality. That everyone who wants a job should have a job. The Liberal’s Real Solutions Plan will fix the healthcare crisis, put an end to Daniel Andrews’ era of spiralling debt and higher taxes, reward hard working Victorian families by cutting seven of Labor’s taxes and easing the increasing pressure on the family budget, help small business and restoring integrity and accountability in Government.
What are the biggest three issues in the electorate and how will you tackle them?
Roads. Everyone knows our roads are in a deplorable state, and this is easily the biggest ongoing issue across the electorate. Plagued with potholes, uneven camber and crumbling shoulders, the Warburton Highway, Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road, Maroondah Highway and Melba Highway have been the cause of many burst tyres and vehicle damage. That’s why the Liberals have committed $10 billion to road maintenance over ten years, delivering better, safer roads by long-term and strategic planning across the road network.
Cost of living. Families and businesses across the region have felt the hard pinch as the cost-of-living skyrockets for fuel prices, food costs, bills, and taxes. On top of this, Victoria’s $167.5 billion debt is now more than NSW, QLD and Tasmania combined. Higher state debt means there is less money to go around. A Matt Guy led Liberals and Nationals Government will control debt and stop wasteful spending while easing the cost-of-living for families by cutting taxes, guaranteeing no new taxes, save costs on energy and water bills, introduce sport vouchers for kids and cut the cost of public transport.
Fixing the health crisis. The Liberal Party is committed to fixing the current health crisis by shelving Labor’s $35 billion rail line from Cheltenham to Box Hill and put that money into health care.
NAME: Robert Thornton
OCCUPATION: Retired engineer
PARTY: Aligned Australia/ Independent
Robert Thornton is the founder of the political party Aligned Australia and has lived in the Eildon District since 1989. The Aligned Australia website says Mr Thornton has become infuriated at the lack of leadership and the non-performing Two Party Preferred (2PP) model of government which thrives on a lack of accountability.
Mr Thornton commenced his career as a seagoing engineer, having emigrated to Australia from England, as a Marine Surveyor with the Department of Transport. In 1981 he joined BHP Petroleum where he held senior positions in engineering and production operations, in Australia and overseas.
In 1999, Mr Thornton, together with colleagues, transitioned into small business, a journey of much learning. He was also an active member of the local CFA brigade for 15 years and currently volunteers at the Andrew Ross Museum in Kangaroo Ground.
Aligned Australia operates according to its values of independence, opportunity, education, informed decisions, policy over politics, behaviour, transparency, context and meaningful lives.
Aligned Australia’s key policy advocacy focuses on verifiable and accurate publicly available information, sensible risk management, improved standards of education, resurrecting manufacturing and sovereign self-sufficiency, funding research and development, restoring funding for defence, a calm, realistic and defined plan to reduce emissions without abandoning livelihoods to address climate change, a gas quota and evaluation of coal demand to assist in restoring Australia’s energy ‘advantage’, lower levels of immigration and a number of parliamentary reforms.
NAME: Wil Mikelsons
OCCUPATION: not disclosed
PARTY: Greens
Where do you live?
I live in Launching Place in the Yarra Valley. I have lived here for 4 years.
Why did you decide to run for Eildon?
Environmental issues led me to want to stand. Getting real action on climate change and protecting our Native forests and all of issues that go with that such as avoiding extinctions of our native flora and fauna, protecting communities from fire risk, protecting our water catchments and ensuring a just transition for timber workers to support them into new jobs. I am also very interested in social justice issues around affordable housing for all and improving health services in regional areas.
Why do you believe you’re the best candidate?
I am the candidate to achieve the best outcomes around these issues.
What are your party’s policies and values you stand by?
The Greens are the political movement that most closely aligns with my values, fighting to protect our precious environment, looking after the vulnerable, inclusion, equality and self determination of all peoples.
What are the biggest three issues in the electorate and how will you tackle them?
1. Saving native forests and creating jobs restoring nature
Logging our native forests is contributing to an extinction crisis. Science also tells us that logging increases fire risk to communities. Protecting native forests will help to meet climate change obligations. Ending logging now would reduce emissions by an estimated 24% in Victoria. The Greens will Legislate to end native forest logging in 2023, with a transition plan to move workers into new jobs.
2. Housing affordability. Wages can’t keep up with rents and too many people are locked out of buying their own home. Governments have sold off social housing in our townships and rentals are almost impossible to get. The Greens plan includes: Building 100,000 new public homes in ten years.
3. The health system is in crisis. Victorians need to know that, if they have to see a doctor, call an ambulance or go to hospital, they will get the care they need, when they need it.
The Greens will increase health funding by an extra $5 billion, and focus on the forgotten areas of disease prevention, dental and mental health care.
NAME: Joshua Rusic
OCCUPATION: Undisclosed
PARTY: Freedom Party of Victoria
Joshua Rusic is the Freedom Party of Victoria candidate for Eildon. A response was not received from the contact provided for Joshua on the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) website.
Mr Rusic has expressed on his Facebook page a desire for public servants to serve the public rather than themselves and expressed frustration at the Emergency Powers Bill introduced in 2021.
Mr Rusic is credited with having been an organiser of at least one pandemic protest in Victoria in November 2021 and publicly endorsed the StopTheBill.com.au website at the protest.
The Freedom Party of Victoria website states seven policies:
1. Create “a new health portfolio that includes a renewed focus on supporting health to reduce the need to treat illnesses,” reinstatement of doctor-to-patient privacy and the reinstatement of healthcare workers who were laid off due to vaccine mandates.
2. Drug reform including discrimination of illicit drug possession for up to 10 days, the closing of all government-provided injecting rooms and tailor-made rehabilitation plans.
3. Criminialising gender transition therapy and surgery for minors.
4. Criminalising preferences for cash deals for election referencing.
5. “End Daniel Andrews’ moratorium in order to access Victoria’s known current gas reserves, supported by further exploration in advancing energy supply security.”
6. Establishment of favourable taxation conditions to key industries such as Farming and Technology Businesses in Regional Victoria.
7. Implement a 5 per cent reduction target on all government spending and introduce third-party audits on various government departments.
8. Immiatedly repeal all pandemic legislation, “no more lockdowns, mandates or restrictions in employment or movement within the community,” and hold an inquiry into the Covid-19 response.
9. Protect the local supply of timber.
NAME: Kammy Cordner Hunt
OCCUPATION: Undisclosed
PARTY: Independent
Where do you live and how long have you lived there?
Mansfield. I worked here as a jillaroo while a uni student, then got my first job at teaching (Science and Maths) in Mansfield in 1986.
Why did you decide to run for the seat of Eildon?
The people of Eildon are aggrieved by the failure of both the major parties to attend to the issues that matter to them:- criminal practices in the logging of native forest, pushing species to extinction; laggardly action on the climate emergency; manifold issues creating a housing crisis – affecting business, schools and tourism;
Why do you believe you’re the best candidate for Eildon?
I am not beholden to any party. I can speak boldly to any issue on behalf of the concerns of our constituents, without fear or favour.
Independents have proven at federal level they can serve their constituents extremely well, while standing up for good policies that benefit the people, the environment, and the future.
I will bring a bold vision for implementing Eildon’s potential as a sustainable lifestyle and local industry hub to ensure a future for those that live here.
What are your party’s policies and values you stand by?
As an independent, not under the thumbscrew of vested interests and not needing to serve any party ideology, I stand for implementing ambitious climate action with the myriad solutions immediately available, stopping old growth logging now, declaring a climate emergency to bring forward policies that will address that at both state and municipal level, preventing new approvals for fossil fuel exploration and extraction, changing the growth, extraction and globalisation paradigm to one of sustainability, localised industry and small business, and addressing the immediate needs and concerns of the Eildon constituents in their respective communities.
What are the biggest three issues in the electorate and how will you tackle them?
1. Flooding, fires and extreme weather events (all experienced recently in Eildon). These have been exacerbated by climate change – priority must be given immediately to new policies which will mitigate the worst of these effects in the future – by reducing our emissions and transitioning to renewable energy. The technology and capacity for these changes are already available, including those already implemented overseas (some of which are Australian inventions/initiatives). All we need is for the blockages/delays put up by the major parties to be removed, enabling the political will to enact these.
2. Housing and rental crisis exacerbated by the gig-economy (AirBnB) and urban exodus during Covid. At the last census, 1.4 million homes in Australia were vacant. There are too many incentives and rewards for property owners to remove their assets from the rental market. This problem affects critical aspects of our communities, and needs a strong commitment to tackle it and create solutions, including looking at how the same problem has been successfully addressed overseas.
3. The Eildon electorate has the most dramatic landscapes for tourism potential and recreation in Victoria, enjoying an easy proximity to Melbourne. Helping small business to flourish, communities to capitalise, farming to maintain prosperity – and to integrate all of these objectives in strategic local plans – will build a resilience, sustainability and interconnectedness into the region’s economy, guaranteeing its outlook for the future.
NAME: Tim Lacey
OCCUPATION: Undisclosed
PARTY: Family First Victoria
Tim Lacey was contacted for comment but no response was received. No headshot was found or supplied.
The Family First Party lists the following policies and values on its website:
1. “We will fight against radical anti-family attitudes and policies of modern politics.”
2. “Protecting families starts with upholding our Judeo-Christian ethic, the source of every Australian’s freedoms regardless of whether they are religious or not.”
3. Protecting Australian families from the “radical left and libertarian right.”
4. “Family First believes humans are male or female and that public policy must reflect biological reality.”
5. “For whether it’s protecting human life from conception to natural death, the timeless definition of marriage, the natural family, religious education, religious freedom and speech – each are intrinsic to establishing meaning and structure that are indispensable to the health and wellbeing of society
