Flinders candidates have their say before voters head to the polls this Saturday. Candidates are listed in ballot paper order. Jason SmartTrumpet of Patriots My message for the voters of Flinders is simple. Don’t vote for me.I ask that you vote for Mike Brown, One Nation.I originally agreed to run for Trumpet of Patriots but have stepped away because of the ToP’s original preference of Teal candidate Ben Smith, Labor and Greens in this election – against what Palmer led me to believe. I had amassed support from constituents based on Ben Smith, Labor and the Greens being put last…
Browsing: Federal Election
OCCAM’S razor is a philosophical principal that suggests that the simplest explanation of a phenomenon is usually the most likely one. In the case of the decision of right-wing Trumpet of Patriots to place Climate 200-backed candidates second on a number of their how-to-vote cards, including for Flinders Trumpet of Patriots candidate Jason Smart, the most likely explanations would be that it was a strategic move (at best) or an error in judgment (at worst). But Clive Palmer had another explanation, quite at odds with the principle of occam’s razor. Instead, Trumpet of Patriots headquarters had somehow been “hacked” and…
THE Liberals have reaffirmed their commitment to spend $900m on the extension of the Frankston railway line. The electrification and duplication of the Frankston line towards Baxter has been plagued by false starts in the past. In 2023, the federal government axed a budgeted $225m set aside for the project by the Coalition government in 2018. A review into ongoing infrastructure projects commissioned by the federal government shortly after its election recommended scrapping the project. Liberal candidate for Dunkley Nathan Conroy announced the $900m promise prior to the March 2024 by-election. Last week he reaffirmed that promise ahead of the…
THE Australian Electoral Commission believes this federal election will have the most complete electoral roll for any Australian federal election since federation, with around 18 million people enrolled; approximately 98% of the eligible population. The federal election process is a huge undertaking with more than 500 early voting centres currently operating across the country and over 7000 polling places operating on election day. On Saturday 3 May, over 100,000 temporary staff will work at the election. There will be 20,000 lanyards, and 240,000 vests and staff will use 25,000 copies of the electoral roll to check off the names of…
THE Commonwealth Electoral Act was comprehensively rewritten in 1918 to introduce preferential voting, replacing the previous “first past the post” system that had existed in the years after Federation. The change was in response to the rise of the Country Party in the aftermath of the First World War – a third major party – and the prospect of the loss of seats to Labor through a split in the non-Labor vote. The three-party system which preferential voting helped to support has remained fundamentally unchanged to this day. The system has also encouraged the participation in elections of minor candidates…
FOR the second federal election in a row, Mornington Peninsula Shire is publishing a “pledge tracker” on its website to inform resident of the “commitments made by candidates”. The tracker attracted criticism last federal election for being “blatantly unfair” with financial pledges only possible by candidates from the two major parties (Shire accused of being off track with pledges, The News 17/5/22). A “pledge” is a commitment by the candidate’s party to fund the pledged project in a future budget and only deliverable if that party wins government. The tracker currently lists Liberal candidate Zoe McKenzie, Labor candidate Sarah Race…
INDEPENDENT candidate for Flinders, Ben Smith, has put small business front and centre in the election campaign, launching his policy platform over the weekend as a new poll shows the seat is now on a knife-edge. Speaking while visiting several local businesses and markets across the peninsula, Smith said it’s time to stop treating the region like an inner-city suburb and start supporting the local employers who actually drive our economy. “As a small business owner in Flinders for over a decade, I understand the unique challenges peninsula businesses face,” Smith said. “My wife and I started our retail store…
THE Trumpet of Patriots candidate for the electorate of Flinders, Jason Smart, has announced he is “withdrawing his candidacy” for the upcoming federal election after being “blind sided by Clive Palmer’s decision” to preference Climate 200 backed candidate Ben Smith. The announcement came on Monday (21 April) after he was unable to resolve the preferencing issue with Trumpet of Patriots head office. The preferences “crisis” came after One Nation’s Mike Brown and Smart had originally announced on 16 April they would stand as a “unified alliance”. Accordingly, Smart stated his intention to place Brown second on the Trumpet of Patriots…
NOTHING says election time as much as conflicts between the opposing teams over signage. Last federal election the issue rose to prominence with the defacing of Zoe McKenzie’s campaign signage (and vehicle) with vile, misogynistic graffiti. The vandalism garnered national coverage for its “nasty and personal” nature, and a level of confusion due to McKenzie being a relative unknown at the time. McKenzie’s only substantial work on the peninsula had been with the Committee for Mornington Peninsula, and work as a member of “Save Our Spidercrabs”, campaigning for an exclusion zone around piers to prevent fishing for spider crabs between…
NOMINATIONS have now closed for the 2025 federal election with seven candidates competing in the Flinders electorate. The nominated candidates are, in ballot order: Jason Smart (Trumpet of Patriots), Ben Smith (Independent), Zoe McKenzie (Liberal), Mike Brown (One Nation), Joseph Toscano (Independent), Sarah Race (Labor) and Adam Frogley (Greens). The field of seven is substantially smaller than in 2022 when ten candidates contested the seat including two independents, and candidates from United Australia, Liberal Democrats, Animal Justice Party and Federation Party. Zoe McKenzie’s big announcement for last week was a $2m investment by an elected Dutton Liberal government to improve…
LAST week marked the first full week of campaigning since the federal election was called for 3 May.Candidates wasted no time hitting the hustings with a flurry of appearances and some sizeable commitments. Nominations for candidacy in the federal election close this Thursday (10 April), so we should have a full list of candidates by next week’s edition of The News. Labor candidate Sarah Race was joined on the campaign trail by the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, to announce a number of infrastructure projects a re-elected Albanese government would undertake. The promises included:…
WITH the election date set for 3 May, the “phoney war” is over, and the real battle begins. The News is currently aware of five candidates that have elected to run in Flinders in 2025: Zoe McKenzie (Liberal), Sarah Race (Labor), Ben Smith (Independent), Adam Frogley (Greens) and Mike Brown (One Nation). In 2022, ten candidates contested the seat including two independents, and candidates from United Australia, Liberal Democrats, Animal Justice Party and Federation Party. Independent Ben Smith had a busy week including meeting with the CEO of Homelessness Australia, Kate Colvin, to discuss the current housing crisis and explore…
HOUSING, healthcare, and the cost of living were at the forefront at a federal election forum attended by Flinders candidates last Thursday, 20 March. A large crowd watched the forum at Rosebud Country Club to hear the five nominated candidates outline their vision for the Mornington Peninsula. Taking the stage were Flinders MP Zoe McKenzie (Liberal), Adam Frogley (Greens), Ben Smith (Independent), Mike Brown (One Nation), and Sarah Race (Labor). Topics ranged from housing affordability, healthcare, and infrastructure funding to climate change, crime and the cost of living. Moderated by mayor Cr Anthony Marsh, the shire stated the aim of…
WITH still no election date announced last week, candidates were on the hustings with numerous appearances at schools, stalls and shopping strips by McKenzie (Liberal), Race (Labor) and Smith (Independent). The only other two candidates to have nominated for the upcoming election, Mike Brown (One Nation) and Adam Frogley (Greens) had their first foray into the public realm at the shire-organised candidate forum, making Flinders a five-way race at present. Liberal candiate Zoe McKenzie held a law and order forum on Monday (17 March) coinciding with a visit from Shadow Minister for Community Safety, the Hon Jason Wood MP. “Jason…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Greens have preselected Indigenous man Adam Frogley as their candidate for Flinders in the upcoming federal election. “I’m a Taungurung (torn-a-rong) man, born and raised on Woiwurrung (Wurundjeri) country in the Yarra Valley. I’ve worked in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs for over two decades, holding many different roles in the Aboriginal community, vocational, higher education and government sectors,” said Frogley.“You know what is at stake in this election. The cost of living, climate and housing crises are being experienced by our community now and the old parties are failing to address them.“Over the course of my…
WHILE electricity prices continue to skyrocket across the Peninsula, independent candidate for Flinders Ben Smith has unveiled a practical plan to reduce household power bills and end dependence on corporate energy giants.“Peninsula families are paying far too much for power while energy companies rake in record profits,” Smith said. “The major parties have had years to fix this problem but have failed to act because they’re too busy playing political games or answering to their donors. We know that smart climate action means lower power bills, more jobs, and a secure future for our peninsula.”Ben’s plan includes:- Supporting local households…
TOOTGAROOK Primary School provides a comprehensive and innovative education program for local families, has a strong and supportive community, and has access to a brand new kindergarten beside the school. Sarah Race, Labor candidate for Flinders toured the facility with Principal Leigh McQuillen and Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh to hear about the school.Tootgarook PS has a vision to enhance learning for the children through empowerment, small class sizes, a buddy program, community involvement, and a strong focus on achieving personal excellence. Tootgarook and schools across the Peninsula are celebrating the announcement that they will receive more funding through…
THE Mornington Peninsula rightly holds the spot as the premier cycling and walking destination in the state. Filling in the final missing links on the Peninsula Link Trail will cement our region’s place, attracting more tourists to enjoy our beautiful environment and local businesses.That’s why an elected Coalition government will commit $5m towards the construction of a 5km path along the Mornington Tourist Railway, to connect Mornington to the Peninsula Link Trail at Moorooduc.According to the Mornington Peninsula Shire, the construction of the path would directly create 12 full-time equivalent jobs, and contribute $5.95 million in direct economic output.A Mornington…
LABOR People in Somerville and surrounding towns will get the free urgent care they need, fully bulk billed, without waiting hours in a busy hospital emergency department, if the Albanese Labor government is re-elected.Foreign Minister and Leader of the Government in the Senate Penny Wong joined Labor candidate for Flinders, Sarah Race, at Tyabb Village Children’s Centre to celebrate the news with local families. If Labor is re-elected, the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Somerville will begin operating in the 2025-26 financial year, providing bulk billed care for urgent but non-life-threatening conditions, seven days a week, for extended hours, and…
INDEPENDENT INDEPENDENT for Flinders, Ben Smith, announced plans to unlock millions of funding for roads, services and hospitals if he is elected, as data shows residents in Geelong receive ten times the funding of residents on the peninsula.Due to a bizarre bureaucratic quirk, the peninsula is currently classified as metropolitan Melbourne, despite being 70% Green Wedge and having more in common with regional areas than city suburbs.“It just doesn’t make sense. We have 40 distinct townships spread across 800 square kilometres, limited public transport, and significant agricultural areas. Yet because we’re classified as ‘metropolitan,’ we miss out on funding programs…
LIBERAL This past summer, everyone had a story of crime – from car theft, to home invasion and robbery.At the start of the summer, there was a shooting in Rye; at the end of summer a woman and an 18-month-old baby were confronted with a gun in a shopping centre – although fake, it was allegedly stolen from a nearby store, and allegedly wielded against passersby at the Target in Somerville by teenagers.At both a state and federal level the Labor government has completely dropped the ball. Data released by the Crime Statistics Agency in September of last year revealed…
HUNDREDS of disgruntled locals joined Independent candidate for Flinders, Ben Smith, on Sunday to demand urgent action to save Rosebud Hospital. “The Rosebud Hospital is the only public hospital serving the entire peninsula, and it’s quite literally falling apart while both major parties have failed to secure the funding we desperately need,” Smith said.“Peninsula residents should not be forced to travel up to 80 kms away to Melbourne for urgent treatment. The neglect of the Rosebud hospital is just another example of our region being out of sight and out of mind for too long. We urgently need to change…
ABACUS Learning Centre in Hastings, which provides invaluable therapy and support for children with autism, is in desperate need of a shade sail for their students. That’s why an elected Coalition Government will provide $20,000 for the purchase and installation of a shade sail at Abacus Learning Centre.Our kids deserve safe outdoor play, without exposure to harmful UV rays. Australians suffer skin cancer at greater rates than any other country in the world, and the Mornington Peninsula has the highest rate of melanoma in Melbourne. At least two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime.…
A FULL house attended the campaign launch of Labor Candidate for Flinders Sarah Race at the Hastings Bowling Club on Sunday.Race was officially introduced by Assistant Minister for Women, Ageing, and Social Security, Kate Thwaites MP, as Labor mounts its biggest-ever campaign for the seat of Flinders. Thwaites fired up the crowd, describing how Labor has supported working families and highlighted how a re-elected Labor government would continue to Build Australia’s Future. Thwaites spoke of the investments Labor is making for local families, including in Child Care, Aged Care, and Medicare – reforms that are making it easier for families…
INDEPENDENT candidate for Flinders, Ben Smith, has called on the Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan to give Peninsula residents a say on the $25 million Arthurs Seat Eagle redevelopment. The project is being fast-tracked through the state government’s Development Facilitation Program, bypassing local council oversight. There has been minimal consultation with the community about the impacts of the project.“Decisions that will reshape our region should not be made from Spring Street without listening to the people who live here,” Smith said. “Arthurs Seat is not just another development site – it’s a treasured state park with deep environmental and community significance.…
LIBERAL Zoe McKenzie, Federal Member for Flinders, welcomed Sussan Ley, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, and Shadow Minister for Small and Family Business, to the Flinders electorate on January 28, to participate in a roundtable with leading businesswomen from the Mornington Peninsula.The roundtable was facilitated by the Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula, and held at Sages Cottage Farm in Baxter. A difficulty in attracting and retaining staff post-COVID, high energy prices, difficult-to-navigate industrial relations laws and the large state tax burden were issues raised by the group.According to the 2021-22 Mornington Peninsula Business Survey, there are approximately 15,800 businesses…
CFFMP AT this year’s federal election, the results in both Dunkley and Flinders will shape the national outcome in Canberra. The pathway to forming government will see major party leaders visit Dunkley over coming months, while Flinders is shaping up to be a three-cornered contest between the Liberals, Labor and a Community Independent.The Committee was pleased to facilitate a Federal Candidates Forum held on 14 February in Mornington with all major candidates for both electorates. More than 200 people attended the event at Mornington Racecourse for the forum hosted by the ABC’s Patricia Karvelas.As the peak advocacy body for the…
LABORFRIENDS of Peninsula Home Hospice hosted Rosie Batty AO for a sold out fundraising luncheon at the Blairgowrie Yacht Club last Thursday. Peninsula Home Hospice provides free critical support to people on the Mornington Peninsula who are suffering life-limiting illnesses in the comfort and safety of their own homes.Labor candidate for Flinders Sarah Race attended the luncheon to show her commitment to the health care sector and health care workers. Primary health care plays a crucial role in our communities. It gives patients access to the right care at the right time, leading to improved health outcomes and reduced pressure…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has launched their “Shout Out for the Peninsula” advocacy campaign in the lead up to the 2025 federal election. The campaign consists of a list of “investment–ready projects” that the shire will advocate for, the reintroduction of the “pledge tracker” to monitor funding pledges made during the campaign, and a community election forum.The cornerstone of the shire’s campaign is a ten page document containing a list of investment–ready projects. The 125 projects in the document have a total value of approximately $300m. Items range widely in size and complexity, with big ticket items including a “Somerville to…
INDEPENDENT candidate for Flinders Ben Smith has called for urgent action to make healthcare accessible for everyone after data showing bulk billing no longer exists for many patients on the peninsula.The latest Cleanbill report shows that of 42 clinics across the electorate of Flinders only four are still able to offer bulk-billing to all patients, with the average cost of a standard consultation being $86.80.Medicare data shows that the Mornington Peninsula bulk billing rate is only 67% – 11% below the state average. For people aged 16-64, the bulk billing rate falls to 56%.Smith said the cost of visiting a…