IN THE TRENCHES
Gardens boat ramp to Rippleside.
Meanwhile, Geelong MP Christine Couzens and Lara MP John Eren painted themselves into a rhetorical corner when they were caught out lying to State Parliament.
Ms Couzens, backed by Mr Eren, accused the Geelong Advertiser A of fabricating quotes supporting the consideration of safe injecting rooms in Geelong — despite her emailing the exact comments to this newspaper. Whoops.
The unfortunate side effects of public life were also told in concerning detail.
Police Minister Lisa Neville spoke for the first time in February about how she faced death threats and was stalked just months after joining state Cabinet.
The Bellarine MP said the death threats made her realise how important it was for people to be able “to go home and feel safe”.
The biggest issue of the year in Spring Street was legislation to introduce legal euthanasia in Victoria. Debate was emotional, protracted and mostly heart-felt with Geelong region MPs opening up about the loss of their parents and how assisted dying may have eased their suffering.
With a state poll less than 12 months away and the prospect of a federal election not to be dismissed, erstwhile political players pulled on their boots for another tilt at political glory.
Surf Coast councillor Libby Coker has returned as Corangamite Labor candidate for a second round with Ms Henderson, less than 18 months after their first faceoff.
Former Corangamite MP Darren Cheeseman has his eyes on Spring Street, winning pre-selection as the Labor candidate for South Barwon.
In another tight contest, the Liberal Party is yet to select its candidate to take on Ms Neville in Bellarine, although Surf Coast Shire mayor Brian McKiterick has expressed interest in preselection. Every one of those local contests will be of interest. In 2018, as any political observer knows, the road to government in Spring Street and Canberra runs through Geelong. That’s why everyone from the Prime Minister and Premier down will schedule a visit in Victoria’s second-largest city.