Gippsland › Latest news › The Sensible Centre
Independent candidate for Eastern Victoria Vern Hughes determined to win the seat in the upper house
Vern Hughes, Director, Civil Society Australia; Convenor, The Sensible Centre to run as an independent candidate for Eastern Victoria.
Tonimbuk man, Vern Hughes, was pipped at the post in 2018 by the Shooters Party's Jeff Bourman for a seat in the Victorian Legislative Council for Eastern Victoria. This time, Mr Hughes is determined to win the seat in the state's upper house.
Vern Hughes, a community worker who has worked in NGOs, church agencies, co-ops and social enterprises and is determined to win the seat in the state's upper house
Aiming for a better governance
Vern Hughes will be an Independent Candidate for a seat in the upper house for Eastern Victoria. Five members will be elected across 450,000 of Eastern Victoria. "We have not had a strong voice in Parliament for this region in the last four years", said Mr Hughes. "Labor and Liberal serve their parties not the people, and the Shooters are a one-issue fringe party".
"We've had incompetent government by out-of-touch career politicians. They've made a mess of everything they've touched. Small businesses have been to hell and back. Parents have watched the quality of schools deteriorate. Roads and infrastructure across the region have fallen away. Mental health services are ineffectual."
"Meanwhile, the cost of living for ordinary families is sky-rocketing. The state's debt is over $167bn. Council rates in regional Victoria now average $2535 on a $700K home, while those in Melbourne will pay $1099." Mr Hughes said.
Mr Hughes as a community worker
Mr Hughes aims to represent the sensible centre in politics - families, communities, small businesses and voluntary associations. He is a community worker who has worked in NGOs, church agencies, co-ops and social enterprises.
He founded the Social Entrepreneurs Network in 2000, and led the development of social enterprises in Victoria. He developed Australia's only consumer-run primary health care centre in the 1990s. He was Director of the Uniting Church's Hotham Mission. He was Director of the Co-operative Federation of Victoria, a peak body of co-ops and mutuals.
Five-key messages
Mr Hughes has a 14-point policy platform which outlines a people-centre approach to fixing the problems in the state's governance. His Five Key Messages are:
- Gippsland and Eastern Victoria deserve our fair share of services and infrastructure
- We need Independent reps in Parliament, not parties
- Our households need help with cost of living pressures
- Our kids and families need support
- We need corruption and career politicians out of politics
Mr Hughes is Director of Civil Society Australia and Convenor of The Sensible Centre.
Pictures from The Sensible Centre website.
Source: http://gippsland.com/
Published by: news@gippsland.com
Latest News
ANZAC Day events across South Gippsland and other shire council updatesGippsland students urged to enter National Water Week poster contest by 6 September 2024
Have your say and help develop Trafalgar Structure Plan through online survey by 20 May 2024
Stay vigilant and report scams to IDCare on 1800595160 as over 500,000 Aussies lose $3B in 2022
Tim Bull visits Gallipoli and honours fallen locals such as Basil Hooper, Vern Brookes, Thomas Bell, and Thomas Haylock
Community feedback needed for East Gippsland Shire Council Draft 2024/25 Budget by 29 May 2024
Fresh food tax criticised by industry as lack of clarity on payment and collection will harm families and farmers
Russell Broadbent seeks answers to 20% increase in cardiac arrests by advocating investigation to include vaccine mandates
East Gippsland Shire Council highlights telecommunications infrastructure when advocating over thirty goals for community resilience and development
Russell Broadbent addresses nationwide Covid injustices-rights breaches, lockdowns, mandates and waste of $577B on vaccine and tests