By Parker McKenzie
Voters throughout the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges will head to the polls on 21 May after a six-week federal election campaign.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison informed Governor-General David Hurley on Sunday 10 April of his intention to call the election at Government House in Canberra.
Former Speaker of the House Tony Smith is retiring from politics after serving as the Member for Casey since November 2001. Mr Smith was widely respected by parliamentary colleagues for his bipartisanship.
Currently, there are five candidates who have declared their intention to nominate for the federal seat, which is located in the south-east of Melbourne.
Local businessman Aaron Violi is the Liberal candidate nominated to replace Mr Smith after winning a crowded pre-selection in November 2021. Mr Violi will be hoping the goodwill towards Mr Smith will serve as a quasi-incumbency advantage for him, as he has signalled he will pursue a similar platform to the retiring member if elected.
Engineer and small business owner Bill Brindle is making his second attempt at winning the seat of Casey for the Labor party after he lost to Mr Smith at the 2009 Federal election. Mr Brindle told the Star Mail on 14 December one of the key issues he will campaign on is the introduction of a National anti-Corruption Commission.
Former Sustainability Victoria CEO Claire Ferres Miles was chosen by the political engagement group Voices of Casey to represent them as a community-independent candidate. Ms Ferres Miles flagged action on climate change, integrity in politics and the respectful treatment of all people regardless of culture, gender or sexuality as the three key issues for the election.
Academic and Musician Jenny Game is the Greens candidate for Casey. Also running for the second time after 2019, Ms Game said in an interview with the Star Mail on 8 December the Greens would run on a platform of climate action, creating jobs in renewable energy, affordable housing and integrity in politics.
Former infantryman, Air Force navigator and Australian Federal Police member Anthony Bellve is the United Australia Party candidate. Mr Bellve and the UAP are running on platform of ending lockdowns, banning domestic “vaccine passports”, abolishing the national cabinet, investing in nuclear technology, and protecting free speech and “Australian values”.
While many candidates have been active in the community promoting their aspirations, with the election campaign officially started residents in the Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley should expect to see them even more in the coming weeks.
Residents in Ferntree Gully will decide whether current Aston MP Alan Tudge returns to parliament after a controversial term in government for the Minister for Education, who has been on personal leave.
