THE state election race for Nepean has a new entrant, with Safety Beach resident Kim Robbins throwing her hat into the ring as an independent candidate.
Robbins decision to run comes despite the organisation she is a member of, Independents for Mornington Peninsula, electing to concentrate their resources in the Mornington electorate, and not run a I4MP endorsed candidate in Nepean and Hastings.
“I live in Nepean, I vote in Nepean, and Nepean is my focus. I’m a member of I4MP and strongly support the community independent movement,” said Robbins.
“As it stands, I’m not an I4MP-endorsed candidate. With I4MP focused on Mornington, I decided to stand to give Nepean voters an independent candidate option on the ballot. I’m running my own campaign with local supporters.”
Robbins said she would spend the campaign listening to residents, businesses and community organisations across Nepean, with local experiences helping to shape her priorities.
“I’m not running to give Nepean another list of promises. I’m running to find out what happened to the promises we’ve already been given,” said Robbins.
“I’ll follow the money, ask the questions and publish the answers. If the government refuses to answer, I’ll publish that too.”
Robbins pointed to Rosebud Hospital, the rebuilding of a large section of Peninsula Link little more than a decade after it opened, and the peninsula’s continued struggle for adequate state funding as examples of questions that deserved clear answers.
“Governments are very good at making announcements. They’re much less willing to show us what was actually funded, what’s been delivered and who’s responsible when something goes wrong,” said Robbins.
“My goal is better services, fairer funding and decisions that reflect the needs of the people who live here.
“But we won’t get those outcomes if nobody is willing to look closely, ask uncomfortable questions and keep pushing until we get an answer.”
Robbins said her priorities would include cost-of-living pressures, reliable local health and community services, housing, community safety and protecting the peninsula’s environment.
Robbins joins Liberal incumbent Anthony Marsh and One Nation candidate Darren Hercus in the contest for Nepean. Labor are yet to name a candidate.
First published in the Mornington News – 1 September 2026
