Anstis defends Twitter political messages

Twitter messages from Baw Baw Shire’s chief executive officer Helen Anstis advocating voters make the seat of McMillan “marginal” at next month’s Federal election have been strongly defended by mayor Joe Gauci and Ms Anstis herself.

Two messages were posted last week by Ms Anstis in response to ALP McMillan candidate Chris Buckingham’s Twitter account #makeMcMillanmarginal.@Labor4McMillan

Ms Anstis’ messages stated (making McMillan marginal) was “maybe the only way that our voices can be heard. Let’s make a noise. Gippsland needs Federal support” and “the best way to get the West Gippsland Arts Centre Federal funding of $4.9 million”.

Ms Anstis pointed out that her Twitter account was not provided by council and that she was commenting as a private citizen.

Both she and Cr Gauci stressed the need for the shire to do everything it could to attract Federal and State government investment in the area.

Cr Gauci said it was “tough to get attention when electorates were considered safe (by political parties)”.

Russell Broadbent has held McMillan for the Liberal Party since 2004 scoring a two-party preferred vote of 61.8 per cent at the 2013 election.

However, before Mr Broadbent regained the seat it had alternated between the Liberal Party and the ALP five times since 1980.

Cr Gauci said that if political parties see no threat to holding a seat or didn’t consider they could win they showed little interest and it didn’t matter how strong a business case a council might make for funding.

If we don’t speak up who will?, Cr questioned.

Ms Anstis said she was not trying to engage in party politics. “We are just trying to get some cut-through”. What’s the reward for being in a “safe seat,” she asked.

Ms Anstis said council had been actively lobbying for funds to redevelop the WGAC for some time and was doing that when the election was called.

(She was part of a Baw Baw shire delegation in Canberra detailing the shire’s needs to Ministerial staff members and departmental officers when Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the election date).

Cr Gauci said there were plenty of examples in the past and during the current election campaign where party leaders were concentrating their presences and funding announcements in marginal electorates. Gauci