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Arrogant Labor To Neglect Eastern VictoriaThe Labor Party has rejected local country Victorians in favour of city-based candidates in the Upper House seats of Eastern Victoria region at November’s election. By Phillip Davis - 15th June 2006 - Back to News Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Philip Davis said the Labor Party’s second and third candidates on the Eastern Victoria ticket lived in Melbourne.
Mr Davis said the Eastern Victoria region stretches from the Mornington Peninsula to the New South Wales border.
"Number one on the ticket is Matt Viney, who is a current Labor Party Member of Parliament representing a city electorate which will be abolished with the redistribution of the Upper House at this election," Mr Davis said.
"Mr Viney may have changed his enrolment details for the election period but he has offered no guarantee to Eastern Victorian voters that he will live in his electorate after November 2006."
Mr Davis said Labor’s candidate for the second position on the ticket had no intention of relocating to country Victoria.
"If successful at the election, Labor candidate Johan Scheffer plans to represent his Eastern Victorian constituents from the comfort of his home in Elsternwick and no doubt constituents will have to travel to Melbourne to see him at his office.
"Mr Scheffer has admitted to the media that he has no intention of moving out of Melbourne, whether he wins the seat or not. (Weekly Times, 14 June 2006)
"How could a Member of Parliament who resides in Elsternwick possibly have any knowledge or empathy with those living in areas as remote as East Gippsland?
"Obviously Premier Steve Bracks does not care who represents country Victoria or where they do it from."
Mr Davis said the third position on Labor’s Eastern Victoria ticket was held by Glenyys Romanes of Brunswick.
"It is an absolute disgrace that the Labor Party does not think highly enough of country Victoria that it would overlook locals in favour of city people who know nothing about rural and regional Victoria," he said.
"The Liberal Party is committed to providing effective representation of country Victoria from Members of Parliament who are part of their local communities.
"Every Liberal Party candidate for the Eastern Victorian region and all country Upper House seats reside in the prospective electorates.
"Visiting country electorates once a year via video-link is not acceptable to the Liberal Party."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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