Final shots in vote volley

VOTERS in outer eastern Melbourne, the front line on which the election war has been waged, will soon deliver their pre-election no man’s land to the winning side.
Monbulk MP James Merlino said the outer east was generally understood to be the front line of this year’s election, and said it had received a lot of attention.
“There have been a lot of exciting initiatives we’ve announced over the last few weeks, from the very small to the very large,” he said.
One of the major promises for the hills on the election trail was the pledge of $200,000 from both Liberal and Labor parties for the Gemco performing arts centre project.
Of the hills electorates, Labor’s Monbulk seat will require the biggest swing of 8.29 per cent to fall into Liberal hands, while Ferntree Gully and Gembrook are tighter at 2.29 per cent and 1.59 per cent respectively.
Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato said despite having been written off in some quarters, she remain hopeful that people having experienced what true representation by their local member of Parliament means will give her the opportunity to serve another term.
Meanwhile, Liberal candidate for Gembrook Simon Wildes said the election promises to be a close call when voters go to the polls on Saturday.
Mr Wildes believes people in the hills will be the real winners of the state elections with a number of policies for the community such as a new fire tanker for Cockatoo CFA and funding for Gemco’s performing arts project.
Ms Lobato said people in the seat of Gembrook were taken for granted when it was deemed a safe Liberal seat but now as a marginal seat it is experiencing proper representation.
She said on Saturday electors have a genuine choice – to return to the bad old ways or to continue with a grass roots community person with runs on the board.