HAVING a federal government representative who is independent of the major political parties is seen as the key to bringing benefits to the Mornington Peninsula by the fledgling Voices of Mornington Peninsula.
Launched in June, the group says the “mismanagement” of the COVID-19 crisis, including the vaccine rollout, has brought the federal government to “a critical point”.
“As community angst about yet another lockdown and national concerns over rorts and other issues rise, Voices of Mornington Peninsula – a – is driving a movement to bring core values back into the democratic process by engaging locals in the political process,” VMP chair Louise Page said last week.
“VMP volunteers have been talking to locals to find out what matters to them and will continue to gather this information for a final report.”
The “local grassroots organisation” wants to find a “inspiring candidate” to stand against Liberal Flinders MP Greg Hunt, the federal Minister for Health and Ageing (“Voices raised across peninsula to find a federal candidate” The News 5/7/21).
Ms Page said the “conversations” VMP members had been having had revealed “concerns” about the federal government’s failure to address “climate change, aged care, child care, telecommunications, asylum seeker policy as well as safety and opportunities for women”.
“VMP is the opportunity for residents to come together, find shared values and identify common issues and to be able to select the independent candidate who will represent those views at the next federal election,” she said.
Ms Page said VMP’s candidate would be “someone who has only one vested interest – to work for the electorate with integrity, accountability and transparency”.
“Peninsula residents want to see a much higher standard from our politicians. An independent candidate who is highly motivated to deliver genuine action on community priorities and understand that they will be accountable to the people of the peninsula.
“The seat of Flinders has been a safe seat for far too long. This has resulted in our local priorities and values being ignored.
“We know that the peninsula has outstanding individuals who have what it takes to demand better from Canberra, both for the nation and for our electorate. A person who will act on our behalf and do it with respect and compassion and make fact based decisions – not toe a political party line.”
Potential candidates can email Louise Page at vmpcandidate@gmail.com
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 20 July 2021
