ALL six candidates that have indicated that they will be running for the Mornington electorate at the upcoming state election gathered for a Mornington Peninsula Shire organised election forum on Monday 19 October.
The six candidates were asked a range of questions regarding issues affecting the Mornington electorate.
The candidates in attendance were Ashli Beards (One Nation), Chris Crewther (Liberal), Melissa Goffin (Independent), Adrian Maher (Independent), Kerry Macdonald (Labor), and Kai Titcher (Greens).
Candidates had two minutes to introduce themselves.
Adrian Maher told the audience he is running as a true independent because he believes that Mornington can do better.
Maher said he can bring people together, challenge conventional thinking and deliver innovating solutions in testing environments.
Ashli Beards told the crowd that she loves holding governments to account and that she’s running because she’s lost trust in the major parties.
“I stepped up into this role because I was fed-up with dodgy politicians making bad decisions for the rest of us,” said Beards.
Melissa Goffin spoke next saying she is someone that when she sees something broken she works to fix it. And rather than anger, disconnect and apathy, she chooses hope and action.
Goffin pointed to her past in business and education saying, “I advocate for community and business through leadership, understanding all too well the pressures they face”.
Kai Titcher said he is running because he believes the community is being left behind.
“At twenty-two years of age, I don’t feel like the major parties represent my interests, those of young people or the local community,” said Titcher.
The incumbent Chris Crewther said to the audience that he doesn’t take his role as the current MP for granted while also noting that Victoria needs a change in government.
“We need a change to a government that will make a difference,” said Crewther.
Kerry Macdonald said she’s a proud member of the Labor party because of the party’s commitment to workers’ rights, universal access to healthcare and education.
“Governments should plan for the future while dealing with everyday issues and that’s what this Labor government has done,” said Macdonald.
The first discussion was based around community safety and youth engagement.
Goffin said there is a valid fear around safety and crime that needs addressing.
“We need to talk not only to our local police but the court system and have measures in place to ensure any criminal found guilty of a crime actually goes through the process and is not back on the streets.”
Titcher said rather than the “tough on crime and criminalisation” approach we need a system that is based on early intervention.
“We need to boost crime prevention by investing in early intervention programs.”
Crewther said despite seeing crime rates go down there is still more that needs to be done.
“If we get into government, we’re going to put on three-thousand extra police, including more police on the peninsula. We’re going to ensure Mornington police station is back to twenty-four-seven counter service.”
Macdonald said Labor’s approach is a combination between serious consequences and early intervention.
Beards said One Nation’s number one priority is community safety.
“We back the funding for 24-hour police stations in places like Mornington and Hastings and all around Victoria.”
Maher said we need to help youth want to be a part of the community.
“There’s got to be clear consequences but we’ve got to help youth engage and teach them what it means to be a part of this community.”
The panel then moved to the topic of transport, roads and infrastructure.
When asked what they would do to address road safety, Titcher said it’s the Greens plan to impose levies on big business and bring the roads “back in house” to help keep the roads maintained.
Macdonald responded by saying it’s important to understand the causes of the deterioration of the roads.
“We need to look at longer term solutions, it’s not just the best solution to just fix the potholes.”
Crewther said the worsening conditions of the roads is due to Victoria’s debt and cuts to road funding and maintenance.
“If we are elected into government, we’ll invest $5b into fixing our roads including filling in one million potholes.”
Goffin said she agrees that road safety is an issue and that the government has failed the community regarding road maintenance.
“The only thing that will deliver for this community and fix our roads is a change in government and a change from the major parties to an independent.”
Maher said we need to fix our roads rather than putting band-aids on them.
Beard said there many things that need to be fixed.
“Firstly if we had the money I would rip up Coolart Rd, and secondly I would look at better transport options.”
The next topic the panel discussed was recreation, active transport and community infrastructure.
The panel was asked if they would commit to building the Mornington to Moorooduc bike trail.
Titcher said, “We recognise the importance of it and keeping the peninsula connected and ensuring there is active transport. The Greens endorse the project.”
Goffin followed that by stating she “100%” supports the bike trail.
“I think that trail would be invaluable and be used by not only locals but also tourist.”
Crewther said that he is now advocating for the bike trail.
“I think the bike trail is really important for active transport, it’s certainly something I’m advocating for.”
Crewther also pointed towards the investments his party has made in sporting facilities within the electorate.
Maher said the bike trail between Mornington and Moorooduc is a “no brainer”.
Maher also spoke about the need to have strong community sports clubs to encourage locals to get involved in the community.
Beards said it will come down to whether or not there is enough money to invest in the bike trail and sporting clubs.
“If we do have that money, the peninsula trail and the link between Mornington and Moorooduc is a key feature of the peninsula.”
Macdonald said investing in active transport and the peninsula trail is important but also acknowledged there needs to be more investment not just to sporting clubs, but to non-sporting clubs and associations.
The last topic the panel covered was housing and homelessness.
The panel were asked what actions they would take within the first 100 days of being elected to help reduce homelessness with the seat of Mornington.
Beards said the first thing we need to do is get the rough sleepers off the streets.
“We need to come up with a plan where housing affordability and homelessness is prioritised.”
Titcher said, “the Greens want to put a levy on big banks. We want to put at 0.1 per cent which is expected to raise $11.5b over the first four years which we want to invest back into housing.”
Crewther said homelessness in an important issue considering the high homelessness rates on the Mornington Peninsula.
“If we were to win government I think we would need to invest more into outreach services and support centres.”
Maher said it’s important for there to be a level of accommodation that is affordable.
Macdonald pointed to Labor’s strategy to provide outreach and a case coordination strategy to help support people and to find them homes.
Goffin vowed to keeping the short-term stay levy and that she will campaign for the Mornington Peninsula to get its fair share of the levy’s funding.
At the end of the of event, all candidates were given one minute to make a closing statement.
Macdonald said she will fight for the things most important for the Mornington Peninsula and its communities.
Crewther said he will continue to be genuine and persistent and fight for the community for its fair share of investments.
Titcher said if he was elected to represent Mornington he would advocate for the investments that Mornington deserves.
Goffin said she’s asking for the community to get to know her and let her show she’s got what it takes to deliver for the community.
Beards said that One Nation have the policy to restore trust, transparency and prosperity within the community.
Maher said he believes he can deliver the things that Mornington needs and make Mornington the place we know it can be.
First published in the Mornington News – 27 October 2026
