Guy coy over Lyons deal
Opposition Leader ‘intent’ on Geelong seats
OPPOSITION Leader Matthew Guy says he has spoken to ex-mayor Darryn Lyons twice in the past six months, but denies discussing preference deals with the political hopeful.
Mr Lyons, who is running in the seat of Geelong at next month’s state election, is a former Liberal Party member and has been a vocal critic of the Labor Government.
His candidacy in Geelong has raised the prospect of a preference deal with Liberal candidate Freya Fidge, with the pair aiming to unseat Labor’s Christine Couzens.
Speaking in Geelong yesterday, Mr Guy said he could not remember exactly when he last met Mr Lyons, but said he did not intend to meet again to work through a potential deal.
“I think when I was in town, I had a brief chat to him. The last time was probably a couple of months ago,” he said.
“The preferences are done with the administrative committee, so I won’t be meeting with him to discuss preferences. But I won’t be meeting anyone to discuss preferences; none of us do.
“So talking to Darryn Lyons about preferences is a matter for my state director, not me — and it won’t come through me.”
Labor has held the Geelong seat since 1999, but the electorate has regularly changed hands throughout its history, and the Liberals believe they are a genuine chance of reclaiming it on November 24.
Mr Guy said recent preelection pledges were proof the Opposition was intent on winning the seat, along with others in the region.
“We want to have a go at all of them. We don’t want to leave any of them without any chance,” Mr Guy said.
“We’ve obviously got one (South Barwon), and we have got another three that we want to pick up — and they’re all opportunities.
“We’ve committed quite a large amount in terms of infrastructure to Geelong and the Bellarine. So we want Geelong, we want Bellarine and we want Lara and we’re prepared to invest.”
Mr Guy said a Liberal candidate in Lara would be announced “very soon”, while he ruled out any prospect of working with the Greens to form a minority government.
The man who could become the state’s next Premier was at The Pier yesterday to speak at a luncheon organised by the Committee for Geelong.
During a speech to about 100 guests, Mr Guy focused on population growth, tipping Geelong to reach 500,000 people by 2050.
He said Melbourne’s population was “out of control” and putting strain on regional centres.
He said promises including a new Minister for Geelong and 200km/h trains to Melbourne were “pretty dramatic commitments” that proved the Opposition took the city seriously.
Committee for Geelong chairman Dan Simmonds said the city was ready for change, including population growth, fast rail and a bigger port.