Wilson accepts Wannon challenge
“Under Labor more than 10,000 apprentices will learn the electric and renewable side of the sector and I see Wannon being a big player” – Gilbert Wilson, left
Former Glenelg Shire mayor Gilbert Wilson has welcomed the challenge of running against Member for Wannon Dan Tehan in this year’s Federal Election.
Mr Wilson of Portland is Labor’s candidate and said his time working on the council had been his apprenticeship for his candidacy.
He said it also represented an opportunity to end Liberal’s 65-year hold on Wannon.
“It certainty is a hard gig to get a positive result, but people are seeing the Federal Government fail,” he said.
Mr Wilson, whose father Keith Wilson ran against Malcom Fraser for Wannon in the 1970s and ’80s, said the Coalition government had failed in supporting transport infrastructure.
“We have a railway network in Maroona outside of Ararat which is a freight network neglected by the Federal Government and leased to the State Government,” he said.
Mr Wilson claimed Mr Tehan had not been attentive to his electorate.
“We haven’t seen him in Portland, we haven’t seen him in Ararat, and he hasn’t been in Colac recently,” he said.
“He is based out of Melbourne, which really signifies why our electorate is missing out on big announcements, because it is a safe seat for the LNP.”
Mr Wilson claimed the Federal Government had cost jobs in Portland.
“The Keppel Prince Engineering factory employed 500 people in its best years, but had to put off many of its employees 18 months ago,” he said.
“It is now trying to win contracts while the Federal Government allows international imported goods.”
Mr Wilson was also critical of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s ‘Manchurian candidate’ jibe at Federal Labor Party deputy Richard Marles.
“Mr Morrison is trying to stir up lies about China’s relationship with the Labor party,” he said.
“We have all seen his lack of ability to run this country during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Mr Wilson said Labor’s net-zero emissions policy could benefit employment in Wannon.
He also claimed the Federal Government had cut training apprenticeships for tradespeople, ‘which had been frustrating’.
“Labor will work with universities to boost these numbers,” he said.
“Under Labor more than 10,000 apprentices will learn the electric and renewable side of the sector and I see Wannon being a big player.”
2022 candidates for Wannon include: Hilary Mcallister, Greens; Craige Kensen, United Australian Party; Amanda Mead, Liberal Democratic Party; and Alex Dyson, independent.
Candidates for Mallee include: Anne Webster, Nationals Party; Stuart King, United Australia Party; Chris Lahy, Australia Citizens Party; and independents Sophie Baldwin and Claudia Haenel.
Labor has yet to announce a candidate for Mallee.