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 and I, together with Chris Crewther, state Member for Mornington, deputy mayor Paul Pingiaro, and additional guests councillor Kate Roper (representing Neighbourhood Watch) and Police Federation of Australia president Karl David APM, joined with members of our community to talk about the increase in crime and the failures of both the Allan and Albanese governments,” said McKenzie.
“In the room was a feeling of palpable agitation; the federal and state Labor governments have not been doing enough. There were questions fielded from the floor from everything from the hapless and weak bail laws that are currently in force, and possible solutions for early intervention and prevention of youth crime. “However, the Coalition is committed to doing what it can to put pressure on state governments to do a better job at law and order.”
McKenzie outlined the Coalition’s commitment improve community safety, announcing:
- $7.5m for Crime Stoppers over three years to expand operations aimed at reducing crime.
- To establish a National Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme.
- To work with states and territories to creates uniform crime laws across all jurisdictions.
- To make it an offence to use mobile phones or computer networks to intimidate or threaten an intimate partner of family member.
- To make it illegal to post material glamourising violence, drug and property crimes to increase a person’s notoriety, and to give the e-safety commissioner take down order powers.
- To revitalising the Safer Communities Fund, after the Albanese Government cut $50m from high-risk youth programs.
- To strengthen Australia’s laws relating to hate crimes, and threats of violence against places of worship; as well as minimum sentences for anti-Semitic or terrorist symbols.
The candidate’s forum wasn’t the only debate stage where candidates could flex their policies to an eager crowd this week. Both McKenzie and Labor’s Sarah Race attended a “democracy class” at Rosebud Secondary College where the discussion was, according to McKenzie “robust and respectful”.
The Sarah Race campaign’s big announcement this week was tackling the persistent issue of poor mobile coverage on the Mornington Peninsula. Mobile coverage is far from universal on the peninsula with persistent areas of poor coverage (Push for Somerville phone tower rejected, The News 22/10/24). While an issue of federal funding, attempts to build more phone towers to improve coverage are often met with community opposition (Somerville residents oppose new phone tower, The News 28/8/22). Other areas affected by poor mobile coverage on the peninsula include Pt Leo, Hastings, Mt Martha, Somers, Red Hill, and Tyabb.
Labor has announced a world-first reform to provide basic universal outdoor mobile coverage across Australia. The “Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation” will require mobile carriers to provide access to mobile voice and SMS, almost everywhere Australians can see the sky. The obligation will require telecommunications companies to use existing bands of satellites to provide back-up service in coverage blackspots offering the consumer universal coverage.
“Labor understands that communicating with loved ones, especially in an emergency, is absolutely critical, and that for our first responders reliable mobile coverage is essential to save lives,” said Race.
“Our lives are dependent on good communications. Labor is building a connected future for Australia, and building on the visionary NBN. The Liberals can’t be trusted when it comes to essential public services.”
The highly visible campaign by independent candidate Ben Smith has received encouraging poll news with recent polling showing Smith is within striking distance of McKenzie. The poll showed Smith currently at 49%, two candidate preferred against Zoe McKenzie’s 51%. An increase of four points in just a matter of weeks.
The poll was conducted by uComms on behalf of Climate 200 and it indicates a significant shift in voter sentiment from the 2022 election, when the seat was won with a comfortable Liberal margin.
“This poll reflects what I have been hearing from the peninsula community. Everywhere I go people tell me they are sick of decades of being taken for granted by the major parties and that they want results,” Smith said.
“I am telling voters that if they elect me I will fight for upgrading our crumbling hospital, tackle rising living costs, and secure the infrastructure funding we’ve been denied. “When my volunteers and I are out on the street or knocking on doors, the message we are getting loud and clear is that people here want a representative who puts community needs above party politics.
“It’s still an uphill battle from here. It’s not easy to run a campaign against the major party machines. But we have hundreds of volunteers and thousands of supporters who will keep fighting because this election presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the peninsula to finally secure the representation we deserve.”
Smith will officially launch his campaign for Flinders on Sunday 30 March at Dromana Estate from 11am to 1pm, with hundreds of community members expected to attend. The campaign told The News “The family-friendly event will feature community speakers, live entertainment, and refreshments”.
Meanwhile Greens cadidate Adam Frogley has begun rolling out his messaging for the upcoming election.
The father of five told The News “The people of Flinders need greater access to family violence support services, to have the cost of living reduced, to see home ownership as a reality, not a dream, and real action on climate change that will provide a better future for our children”. He will be releasing information on specific policy initiatives in the coming weeks.
First published in the Mornington News – 25 March 2025
