THE Voices of Mornington Peninsula group which backed independent Dr Sarah Russell in the May federal election, is now turning its sights on local government.
The group’s latest newsletter criticises Mornington Peninsula Shire for removing $200,000 to buy carbon credits from its 2022/23 budget “despite the many letters and 299 petition signatures that were presented to them”.
“We don’t think the process that was followed in this instance could be held up as best practice,” the online newsletter states.
“The council now wants us (peninsula residents) to help shape their draft public transparency policy.”
Russell was the second candidate chosen by the group after its first choice, Claire Boardman, a health expert, dropped out due to work commitments connected to the coronavirus pandemic (“Medal for health expert’s help” The News 21/6/22).
Russell received 5.25 per cent of the primary votes in the contest for Flinders won by Liberal Zoe McKenzie.
The group says it aims to “represent your voice at all levels of government and to ensure that our elected candidates respond to the wishes of our community, rather than adhering to the political party line”.
However, its newsletter says no decision has been made on endorsing candidates in the November state election.
“There are three state electoral districts on the Mornington Peninsula so to find and support three candidates will require a lot of resources. So, the long answer is we don’t know yet.
“But we do know that, based on the feedback we’ve received so far, we want to get back into running KTCs (kitchen table conversations) as well as educational activities and events to (re)build VMP engagement with the peninsula community.”
Details at email: hello@voicesofmornpen.org.au
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 28 June 2022
