Motion may force house move for MP
VICTORIA’S Labor Police Minister may be forced to move house or step down if her party passes a motion forcing MPs to live in the regions they represent.
Bellarine MP Lisa Neville has not lived in her peninsula electorate for more than 20 years, instead living in her family home almost 10km away from its closest boundary.
Ms Neville’s living arrangements have come into question via her own party, after a group of unions submitted a formal motion to the Labor Party calling for rule changes to force all Victorian Labor MPs to live within 5km of their seat.
The MP did not directly say why she didn’t live in her electorate when asked by the Geelong Advertiser yesterday.
“I have worked for and with communities on the Bellarine for 20 years …” Ms Neville said in a statement.
“While this is a motion for the ALP state conference delegates, I will continue to passionately represent the needs of the communities of the Bellarine.”
Ms Neville also did not directly answer whether she thought she could properly represent her electorate without living in it.
It is understood all other state and federal MPs in the Greater Geelong region are currently living in their respective electorates.
Ms Neville’s main opponent for the November state election will be Liberal candidate Brian McKiterick, who will this week move from the Surf Coast to the Bellarine to live within the electorate.
Mr McKiterick said he would be better able to serve the community by living within the electorate boundaries.
After being criticised for not living in the region he hoped to represent, Labor’s South Barwon state candidate Darren Cheeseman moved from Ballarat to a rental property on the Surf Coast in March.
Mr Cheeseman, who said he would stay in Torquay even if he was not successful in the November election, said he agreed MPs should live in their electorates.
“I think it’s sensible,” Mr Cheeseman said. “I think if people are going to participate in politics and seek to represent the community they should live there, which is what I’ve chosen to do.
“I think living in the electorate, or at least close to it, is important.”
The Labor Party motion — put forward by unions including the CFMEU, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, and the Health and Community Sector Union — will be considered at the party’s state conference next week.