FISHING broadcaster, writer, tackle shop owner and Futurefish Foundation director David Kramer says he might seek Labor Party pre-selection for the state seat of Mornington “if someone taps me on the shoulder … and I’m in the mood”.
Labor is expected to wait until after mid-year before choosing its candidate for the seat held by Liberal David Morris for the past 16 years.
Mr Morris missed out on being re-endorsed by the Liberal Party which chose Chris Crewther as its candidate.
Mr Crewther held the federal seat of Dunkley for one term (2016-2019) after it had been held by former minister Bruce Billson for the previous 20 years.
Mr Crewther lost the seat in 2019 to Labor’s Peta Murphy.
Mr Kramer, who missed out to Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor Paul Mercurio on being Labor’s candidate for Hastings, said on Thursday that he was unsure if he would seek pre-selection for Mornington.
“I did put my hand up for Hastings because no one else had, although I had never before been a member of any political party. If someone tapped me on the shoulder [for Mornington] I’d have to have a look,” he said.
Mr Kramer, who has a reputation for being close to the premier, Daniel Andrews, said he had “never taken him out in my boat fishing”.
“I work on fishing policy for the government and get labelled [as the premier’s fishing mate] for that. I’ve never taken Daniel Andrews fishing in my life, but I do meet with him.”
Mr Kramer said meetings were necessary “because $35 million has been put into fishing by the government”.
“I’m proud to have never been a member [of any political party] before. But I don’t mind the rumours,” he said.
“One day I may be driven into politics and, if Mornington comes around and I’m in the mood, [but] I’m pretty relaxed about it.
“To me, Labor is in the best position to make Victoria better and I think it has a landslide win ahead of it [at the November election].
Mr Kramer said he was “not a fan” of celebrities being endorsed as candidates.
“My passion is about making a difference and Mornington is [now] considered winnable.
“Imagine if Labor held all three state seats on the peninsula? It would get a fair bit of attention [from a re-elected Labor government].
“These seats [Mornington, Hastings and Nepean] have to be hard fought this time.”
First published in the Mornington News – 15 February 2022
