Christine Fyffe, Wandin North
Liberal
History in the community:
I arrived in Australia in 1967, a few years after I met and married David. Working together, we developed the award winning Yarra Burn Winery and Restaurant at Yarra Junction which established my credentials as a small business owner/operator.
It was during this time, I became increasingly familiar with the local issues confronting the people of the Yarra Valley. Having held positions on various industry and community bodies I was inspired to pursue a public role as an advocate for the community.
My appointment as a Commissioner for the Shire of Yarra Ranges in 1994 oversaw the amalgamation of four smaller shires into the one shire that we know today.
Serving as Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and now Speaker of the Legislative Assembly has been a rewarding experience of which I am honored to serve.
My previous Parliamentary work includes serving as a member of the all-party Environment and Natural Resources Committee (ENRC), Deputy Chair of Eating Disorders Taskforce and Deputy Chair of the Commonwealth Womens Parliamentarians.
History in politics:
Elected to State Parliament in 1999, I held office until 2002. Still determined and committed, I fought back to regain the seat of Evelyn in 2006, and retained the seat at the 2010 election.
Public transport:
I have worked hard to ensure the residents of Evelyn have access to good public transport services. With the introduction of more than 134 extra weekly train trips on the Lilydale line and PSO’s patrolling our railway stations I have improved the reliability and most importantly the safety of our public transport users. Another benefit for local residents will be the fare reductions that cap Zone 1 + 2 fares at Zone 1 rates, commencing January 2015.
Victorian commuters can be confident that our investment in new trains, trams and maintenance is paying off. The Coalition’s strategically managed approach to removing level crossings, investment in major rail infrastructure along with cheaper fares and free CBD trams are all part of the Napthine Governments’ plans to build a better Victoria.
Healthcare:
I recognise patients need to access community-based clinical treatment is essential, which is why mental health services in the Yarra Valley have received a funding boost with $6 million for Eastern Health over the next four years. This will provide care for an additional 800 mental health patients in the region. With improvements on waiting lists for patients at Maroondah and Box Hill hospitals and significant drop on elective surgery waiting lists means patients are receiving their surgery within clinically desirable time-frames. Redevelopments at Maroondah and Box Hill hospitals, record funding to hospitals on top of normal hospital funding is further testament myself and the Napthine Government are committed to health care and services.
The former Swinburne campus in Lilydale:
I along with the Minister for Higher Education Nick Wakling have been committed to bring higher education back to Lilydale. The news that Box Hill Institute will open a flexible learning space providing over 20 courses in areas of skills storage and employment is very welcomed. The provision of job ready training in Melbourne’s outer east has been strengthened as a result of the $2.25 million funding commitment by the Victorian Coalition Government. This investment delivers on the Coalition Government’s commitment to give all Victorians regardless of their age or interests better job ready training opportunities. Melba Support Services will move its adult training support into one of the buildings on the Swinburne site. In regard to any further service providers using the buildings, Swinburne University made the decision not to accept any of the other expression of interest applications submitted.
Crime Prevention:
I believe community safety is fundamental to maintaining a high quality of life. I am pleased to inform Yarra Ranges residents that the Napthine Coalition Government has provided more than $500,000 in crime prevention funding across the municipality since 2011. This money has been used to fund 24 diverse crime prevention projects. These include projects to improve lighting in public places, to projects to keep young people engaged, improved lights, locks and alarm systems on a number of valuable community facilities, and funding for multiple projects to tackle the scourge of graffiti. The Coalition Government has delivered on its commitment to fully and completely abolish suspended sentences.
The new law complemented a wide range of other legislation introduced by the Napthine Government to help keep our community safe, including at least 10 years behind bars for coward punch killers, longer sentences for serious crimes, violent drunks banned from licensed premises for two years and statutory minimum sentences for gross violence offences and attacks on police and emergency workers.
The Coalition Government’s crime prevention philosophy is to listen and facilitate, not dictate. The Government is achieving results at the national level as part of its commitment to make Victoria safer.
Other:
As a Member of Parliament we deal with many issues affecting peoples lives. The one that is probably top of my list of concern is mental health. It should be talked about; the reality is that mental illness can strike anyone. It affects every age group and every economic status. Community perceptions have changed a lot in recent times and there is more understanding of the illness. However we need to do more to reduce the stigma of having a mental illness. As a community we need to be more understanding of mental illness and its impact on sufferers, their families and friends, We need to encourage more employers to have confidence and support workers with a mental illness.
The Victorian Government has invested more than $13 million to establish the Mental Health Complaints Commissioner which provides a mechanism for Victorians to raise any concerns about public mental health services in Victoria. Along with the introduction of Victoria’s Mental Health Complaints Commissioner, twelve mental health services across the state including Eastern Health have been selected as part of the first tranche of the Victorian Coalition Government’s new $15.1 million Mental Health and Police Response (MHaP Response).
What issues do you think will be the most important for the Evelyn electorate in this year’s election?
Wherever I go, the issues raised that are important to our community are job opportunities, cost of living and education and training. Having a job is important to our feelings of self-worth and independence. As a politician, a mother and former small business owner I know how important it is to have a strong and stable economy that gives business the confidence to expand and employ workers. Cost of living is another that is top of mind for many, especially for those on a fixed and limited income such as pensioners and single parent families. It is vital that governments keep costs down, keep the budget in balance and retain our AAA rating to reduce interest payments as this frees up more money for services and to reduce costs. Another issue of importance is access to quality education for our young people and adults needing further training. Whether it is distance education or on site, people want real training that leads to real jobs; training such as that on offer from Box Hill Institute in Lilydale.
In four sentences or less, why should people vote for you in the 29 November state election?
I believe that a vote for me and the Napthine Government is a vote for a better Victoria, one that is more prosperous, healthier, smarter and more secure.
The Victorian Coalition has honoured the pledges made at the 2010 election and, in so doing, is building a better Victoria. We will honour all the pledges being made at this election. I am passionate about the Yarra Valley, there is no better place.
Peter Harris, Chirnside Park
Labor
History in the community:
I moved to the Evelyn electorate (Coldstream) when I was five years of age and have never left the electorate, living in Coldstream, Lilydale, Mt Evelyn and Chirnside Park. When first moving to Coldstream, I attended Yering Primary School before being in the first intake of students at Coldstream Primary School in grade five. I then moved to Lilydale Technical School before leaving in year 10. After some labouring jobs at the age of 18 I went to work at Lilydale’s largest manufacturing employer Olex Cables and remained there for 10 years. After returning to Study and gaining dual diplomas in Community Development and Alcohol and Other Drugs I currently work in disability in an organisation that services the outer east including the Evelyn electorate, this role includes looking after complex care clients. I have been involved in sport within the electorate playing both football and cricket at Coldstream and at times having various roles as committee member and coaching roles at both senior and junior level. I was also past Chairperson on Mount Evelyn Township Improvement Committee (METIC) and the Shire of Yarra Ranges Drug and Alcohol Strategy Implementation Group, was a participant in the Shire’s VISTA leadership group, facilitator of The Baby Makes 3 Pilot that the Shire ran in partnership with Morrisons. My children have all attended playgroup, kinder and primary and secondary school at various sites within Evelyn.
I love this area; it’s been home all of my life and will continue to be so.
History in politics:
I ran in the 2010 State election as the ALP candidate.
Public transport:
Roads and public transport will be a key issue in this election. Labor is committed to investing both in roads and public transport through Project 10,000. This includes removing level crossings like the one on Maroondah Highway, that are clogging local roads and delaying drivers throughout Melbourne.
Also as part of Project 10,000 an Andrews Labor Government will invest in Melbourne Metro, which will increase the capacity of the city loop, allowing more services to run.
Labor will also deliver 24 hour public transport on the weekend, with trains running from Friday to Sunday by the end of 2015.
A Labor Government will also reopen the second entrance at Lilydale railway station. It’s a big problem locally that the Napthine government is continuing to ignore.
Healthcare:
Our health services are in crisis so an Andrews Labor Government will appoint an independent expert to find the missing beds promised by Denis Napthine. Respected surgeon and former AMA Victoria President, Dr Doug Travis, will conduct a state-wide census of bed and theatre capacity, and provide recommendations about how to increase the capacity of Victorian hospitals.
Victorian Labor will solve Victoria’s ambulance crisis by immediately ending Denis Napthine’s war on our hardworking paramedics. This dispute should never have happened. An Andrews Labor Government will recognise the value of our paramedics and seek to have the dispute resolved in the Fair Work Commission. This is the first step to solving the long running ambulance crisis. Labor will work in partnership with paramedics to reduce ambulance delays and improve the entire system. If elected, we will immediately commence a process to make sure paramedics are appropriately paid for the vital work they perform.
Emergency Medical Response (EMR) will be implemented at all integrated CFA stations under an Andrews Labor Government. Under EMR, firefighters are dispatched at the same time as paramedics to attend to cardiac arrests and non-breathing patients. Labor will fund specialist training so firefighters can provide basic life support and give CPR. Defibrillators will be installed on fire trucks. Metropolitan Fire Brigade firefighters have been in EMR since 2001 and often respond to incidents before an ambulance arrives. In the first two years of an EMR trial conducted by the CFA, response times reduced by more than four minutes for 90 per cent of incidents.
The former Swinburne campus in Lilydale:
The undisputed number one issue people in our community have raised with me is the closing down of our TAFE. Swinburne directly attributed this closure to the Napthine Government’s savage cuts within the sector. TAFE funding was cut by $290 million per year.
These cuts included the complete removal of the funding differential and full service provision paid to TAFEs. This funding provided essential community services, support for TAFEs’ large infrastructure costs, and provided essential training to thin markets and small rural communities.
Approximately 2000 TAFE teacher jobs cut. Funding rates for all training providers have been slashed, from between $6.50-$8.00 to less than $2 per student hour in courses such as business, hospitality, retail, customer service, event management and fitness.
This not only disadvantages our youth it also affects older adults wishing to retrain for the jobs of the future.
For our local member to come out and tell the community that she would do cartwheels if she was younger because she has found a political fix at the eleventh hour is an absolute disgrace.
To tell our community that they will lose a state-of-the-art purpose built facility and it will be replaced by an abandoned disused car yard is beyond insulting. 20 years ago this TAFE was built because the Yarra Ranges had the lowest uptake of post-secondary education in the State, it seems this Government is happy to confine our community to this damning statistic once again.
If Labor is elected in November we have committed to doing whatever it takes to return TAFE, higher and community education back to this state-of-the-art site. We know this will take a lot of fixing as our TAFE system has been decimated but we are up for the challenge because as a Party we believe education is an investment and everyone should have access to it.
Crime Prevention:
Crime is up every year under the Liberals and Victorians are far less safe today.
More people are turning to crime because the Liberals have abandoned our communities, cut more than $100 million and sacked more than 400 staff from Victoria Police, and have done nothing to fix the jobs crisis.
Under Denis Napthine police stations have been closed or had their operational hours significantly reduced as crime rates jump.
Other:
N/A
What issues do you think will be the most important for the Evelyn electorate in this year’s election?
TAFE is the biggest issue by a long shot, council rates, fixing the ambulance crisis, jobs and health. After 4 years of inaction people just want a Government that will stand with them and fix some of these issues.
In four sentences or less, why should people vote for you in the 29 November state election?
I don’t have all of the answers but I’m willing to listen to my community and advocate on their behalf. I’m not seeking this position lightly; I believe our community needs a voice and a representative who will put them first. I’m not a professional politician and I believe my training as a community development worker will help me effectively represent this community’s needs as part of what I hope will be an Andrews Labor Government after November.
Sandra Betts
The Greens
History in the community:
I have been actively involved in many groups over the years, starting in high school as a student representative Council member and Parent Teacher Student Association member and Minute Secretary. During the 1970’s I coordinated volunteers to collect recycled paper to fundraise for the Brotherhood of St Lawrence.
In 1978 I wrote a report for the Arbitration Commission (NT) regarding the need for an Award for Taxi Telephonist-Radio Operators. During the 1980’s I was involved with the Parent Teacher Pre-School committee at my eldest daughter’s school. I have been a Regional President and Vice-President of the Australian Physiotherapist’s Association.
I have attended and supported Reconciliation Meetings, Rallies and the ANTaR group and volunteered to assist the Free East Timor Campaign. As a volunteer I have assisted primary school reading programmes and school canteen lunch programmes and assisted the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeals. I have assisted the Tibetan Buddhist Rime Group’s Rinpoche to translate texts into English and have led meditation groups for the Institute. I am currently the President of Support after Murder Incorporated.
History in politics:
I joined the Greens in 2006 and was preselected as The Greens candidate for McMillan in the 2007 Federal election. In 2008 I ran for the local government elections in the Yarra Ranges Shire council ward of Streeton.
Public transport:
The Greens support many improvements needed to public transport in Victoria, including additional rail lines into East Gippsland, improved capacity along the Frankston and Cranbourne lines, a rail connection to Rowville and rail connection to Doncaster with commencement of works in the next parliamentary term. The Greens also support the renewal and improvement of bus interchanges at Box Hill and Huntingdale in the next four years and improved schedules and services in the outer urban/rural interface areas to meet the greatest public needs and improve overall utilisation of bus services.
Healthcare:
Healthcare is a Greens priority. Too much is being cut from public services and the pressure to move towards a USA styled health system is detrimental to the public’s needs, especially the disadvantaged. As well as improved funding and resourcing of services we support preventative health measures to improve community life styles and so improve long term health outcomes. The stresses on health services due to a lack of indexation of the Medicare rebates for items such as pathology tests is reaching a crisis point. Australians deserve health care that is at parity with services in the UK, Canada, New Zealand and advanced western nations such as Norway. The Greens have brought about the expansion of Medicare into dental services for our children to prevent future dental illness.
The former Swinburne campus in Lilydale:
The Greens support advanced levels of tertiary education at Lilydale. The Box Hill solution is inadequate to the needs of students. Students from outlying areas, such as the Eildon and Evelyn electorates need academic accommodation in Lilydale to attend University and TAFE courses. The Box Hill proposal does not take this need into account. We support the provision of University, TAFE, ACE and VET services in an expanded campus, such as the former Swinburne site. My personal experiences with private tertiary services is that appropriate standards are not maintained to the same high levels as in professional Public academic services, such as Universities. A better solution more suited to the needs of the areas and population involved is needed.
Crime Prevention:
The Greens believe in prevention of crime by supporting public health, welfare, education and housing services. We believe that minor crimes should be approached differently to major crimes of violence and predation. Where a person’s crimes would be better dealt with by home detention and supervised reporting systems these approaches should be employed to prevent an individual’s contact with the prison’s system and descent into further and increasing criminal behaviours. But where crimes of predatory, sexual, violent and escalating or recurring repetition is involved more stringent measures are required as the duty to protect the public becomes much greater.
As the President of Support after Murder I have been engaged with the current state government and the Callinan Commission to improve the forensic assessment of severe violent offenders and high risk offenders during their detention, to inform parole assessments, and have actively contributed to recent improvements in the Adult Parole Board and Correctional Services Procedures.
What issues do you think will be the most important for the Evelyn electorate in this year’s election?
Disaffection with politics and effective democracy – the public is increasingly disaffected with the ’old’ parties and feel their wishes and needs are greatly ignored. Politicians are letting the voters down and doing too much for ’vested interests’ who donate funds to the ’old parties’ campaigns. The Greens do not accept large donations without severe scrutiny. We have a limit of $1,000 on donations. We are not bought by vested interests so can represent the public’s interests better.
We are strongly supportive of an ABCC with increased powers to investigate and prosecute corruption, of politicians as well as public servants (in other words we want to increase accountability and ensure the public is properly represented and prioritised above vested interests, corporations ought not to be able to buy favours with our politicians – that is not democracy!). Political changes need to be made to protect democracy and ensure that it works.
Until the people actually control the political system, democracy will continue to fail us. Only when the people control the electoral system will the people regain their power and their rightful place in the Democratic system. We need to ban political donations and ensure the people own their electoral system.
The future – we know the world is moving towards renewable energy and Australia has excellent abundant resources to do so. By investing in the renewable energy sector we could be creating new jobs and a cleaner future and halve our greenhouse gas emissions. All it takes is the commitment to do so. Too many inventors have been enticed abroad due to lack of Australian government support of these industries.
The USA, China and numerous other countries at the last international summit are moving away from coal fired generation and investing in renewables. This clearly indicates that the demand for our coal will be decreasing and that the way forward does not lie there. Electricity and gas are becoming increasingly expensive and we need to decrease our power costs by increasing renewable energy production, and increasing the public’s revenues from it. The Public has many advantages they could make if they are allowed to make them. Why should overseas investors, including overseas Governments be put 9atificially at an advantage) when other opportunities exist that are better for average people?
Education – education is highly on the minds of local voters. No one is happy about our unemployment rate and the avenues opened to overseas workers. There are moves afoot to lower our wages, conditions and life-style, to create a ’labour force’ of desperate unemployed. Australians who will accept a lowering of standards. Be certain that this will not raise living standards in exploited populations. And will not serve the interests of Australians, either.
We are not receiving appropriate Education of our population at a local level. We need accessible University degrees, accessible TAFE qualifications, accessible Adult Community Education and accessible vocational Certificates for Secondary students. Only a comprehensive local facility with residential opportunities and a large number of degrees, certificates and qualifications available will serve our needs.
The plethora of human, social concerns – we are a society. No individual is alone, an island. We are aware of the basic needs for healthcare, welfare, public housing, education to tertiary level, aged care, disabilities, the poor and disadvantaged, and the working poor. No one in Australia wants to increase disadvantage. We all agree that no one should need to steal to eat. We learned this from the past and we are not selfish or fools. We know the society should serve its population – not corporations. No corporation should receive a subsidy at the public’s expense. We pay taxes, they try to avoid them and too often, our politicians try to give them subsidies at our cost.
Currently every cent of royalties paid for mining in Victoria is returned to the Miners as subsidies. The money the public earns in recompense is never returned to the people, to provide their services that they need.
No Liberal/National or Labor Government, at State level, has provided social housing for very many years. New construction was nil until the Gillard Government, and that was extremely limited. At a State level we have seen zero commitment to assisting those most in need with housing. The Greens want to create Housing Investment Bonds so that Superannuation bodies and Banks can invest and thus raise funds to build much needed affordable housing for low income earners and those on welfare. No other party has any policy to meet this severe need.
The Yarra Valley has a large number of homeless people living in tents, living rough, unable to find other options, with public housing waiting lists being 2-10 years now – totally unacceptable and in crisis. The accommodation available ’in the East is 14 beds for homeless youth’ – totally inadequate to the need.
This type of disadvantage forces desperate people into crimes and none of us would be happy with that: all of us want a solution to these circumstances. None of us want others living with these sufferings. We are humane and we care. I believe that if people are informed they will act. It is the ignorance of not knowing that creates the greatest damage in society.
Imagining that everyone will have better circumstances at some point is untrue. My Grandmother was Grade 6 educated. Her engineer husband developed Parkinson’s disease at a young age. She had two boys to raise and an invalid husband. Only social housing and the opportunity to buy that home gave her any ’equity’ in life.
This is not an unusual circumstance and could happen to anyone. Australians need to remember their ’true concern’ and ’ethical’ or ’moral’ views and stand true to the needs of society. Society depends upon concern for others, relating to others, and remembering that ’there could go I’.
In four sentences or less, why should people vote for you in the 29 November state election?
I am a person with a clear vision of what I want to achieve.
I care about people, our future (and thus, our children) and the State and County’s direction.
I am passionate about giving Democracy back to the people.
I am intelligent and well informed and willing to work hard for improvements in our world.
Anthony McAleer, Mount Evelyn
Independent
History in the community:
Secretary Mt Evelyn RSL, actively involved in numerous local history and cultural groups. Author of eleven books on the history of the Yarra Valley.
History in politics:
N/A
Public transport:
N/A
Healthcare:
N/A
The former Swinburne campus in Lilydale:
My ultimate goal is to have a stand-alone university and TAFE with access for community education returned and developed on the site. It should not be rezoned away from educational use; it should not be sold off to developers.
Crime/Crime Prevention:
N/A
Other:
N/A
What issues do you think will be the most important for the Evelyn electorate in this year’s election?
The number one burning issue for the outer east is our lack of post-secondary educational facilities. We are now the only region in Melbourne without its own higher education facility, there is nothing between Bundoora and Berwick. As a result our kids are being more disadvantaged on this issue than others, our kids are being forced to travel further and spend more time travelling in order to study and worse, our kids are finding it all too hard and opting not to undertake further studies.
In four sentences or less, why should people vote for you in the 29 November state election?
This election I encourage everyone not to vote for a party or a premier but for the most important issue in your area – education. Our kids deserve the same post-secondary facilities that every other region in Melbourne enjoys. This time vote for whoever you think will provide that. You voted for a political party last time and you can vote for political party next time. This time make your vote count for education.
Damien de Pyle, Lilydale
Australian Christians
History in the community:
Careforce/Discovery Church 2002-2014
History in politics:
N/A
Public Transport:
We believe that a good balance of public transport and better roads is an important part of easing congestion and helping make Victoria a better place to live. We believe in making public transport more efficient, more affordable and more accessible, not only for Victorians but also for tourists and others who come to visit here.
Healthcare:
We believe that healthcare is a pivotally important part of our state. We firstly want to see doctors have a greater freedom of conscience. Currently, doctors have to refer patients for an abortion for any reason, even the gender of the child. Whether or not you agree with abortion is completely different to whether a doctor should have the freedom to not go against their beliefs. Secondly, we want to see fairer wages for paramedics and nurses and greater protections to their workplaces. Paramedics and nurses can be confronted with intoxicated or mentally unstable patients who may be violent and/or pose a threat to the paramedic’s or nurse’s wellbeing. We would like to see paramedics and nurses protected in their workplace so they don’t have to worry about their own wellbeing when they are performing their job. Thirdly, we believe the alcohol and drug violence hurt families. Therefore we would support legislation that demand the reduction and prevention of people being addicted to drugs and alcohol, as well as the recovery of people already addicted.
Swinburne in Lilydale:
As a TAFE student myself, I fully understand the inconvenience of the current TAFE fees and the closure of the Lilydale TAFE campus. The Australian Christians don’t currently have a specific policy in regards to re-opening the Lilydale campus of the Swinburne TAFE. However, I strongly support re-opening it. I also believe in implementing policies to make sure that the Lilydale Swinburne campus is run smoothly and efficiently to make sure the campus isn’t shut down again in the future. Education is the base of anyone’s success and we need better education to help create a more successful society.
Crime prevention:
We believe that the reduction of the crime in Victoria can be done in many ways. Firstly, we recognise that there are many social factors that can lead a person to committing a crime. We believe that good strong families can help nurture great upstanding citizens that will uphold and respect the law. Therefore, we would want to see policies put into place that would encourage those great family structures that will create great law abiding citizens. We also want to improve ways of protecting our police force. We also believe in a fair justice system that treats all persons equally and that delivers fair punishments for crimes committed.
Other:
We believe that Local Municipal Council need to be held accountable for their spending and we would encourage a review into how councils work and spend their money. We would implement policies that would remove some non-core services that councils are currently delivering and find better ways of using the money that council receive. We would also like to reduce Victoria’s stamp duty, council rates and taxes to help small businesses and everyday Victorians.
What issues do you think will be the most important for the Evelyn electorate in this year’s election?
I believe that the Lilydale campus of Swinburne TAFE will be an important issue specifically for the Evelyn Electorate. I also believe that helping out our farmers is vitally important too with the continuing stress of hiring seasonal pickers and the changing conditions of the environment and the economy.
In four sentences or less, why should people vote for you in the 29 November state election?
You don’t have to be religious to vote for the Australian Christians. We represent values that will help shape our society for the better with great biblical principles that promote Family, Freedom and Life. At the end of the day you need to vote for someone who best represents what you believe, and not for who you think will be better out of the major parties. Vote for someone who shares the same values and beliefs that you share and someone who, using those values, will make Victoria a better place.
The Mail attempted numerous times to contact Independent candidate Lawrence Mobsby with the questionnaire, but failed to make contact with him.
