Candidates have a say on key issues
Upper house candidates for Eastern region Melina Bath and Meg Edwards urged attendees to lobby family and friends living outside of the electorate to vote for a Coalition government to deliver on outcomes for a new West Gippsland Hospital.
ALP candidate for Narracan Christine Maxfield and sitting ALP Member for Eastern Victoria region Harriet Shing were apologies for the event.
William Hornstra, Greens candidate for Narracan:
Protection of Horseshoe Bend – I’m a big supporter of the environment, but I would need to go back to the lobby group to obtain more information.
Funding for a new hospital I’m a big supporter for a new hospital. The Green’s policy is to send it to an independent tribunal to decide on where funding is most needed, as well as more funding for public health including dental.
CFA – Our focus for outcomes for the CFA is compensation for all cases of cancer.
Guss Lambden, independent candidate for Narracan:
Funding for a new hospital – I have been following the campaign closely on social media. Coming from a military background, I place high value in medical professionals. I can see the need for a new hospital. I’m getting older and will probably need it one day.
Carlo Ierfone, independent candidate for Narracan:
Funding for a new hospital – I agree with the support for a new hospital but first we need to be asking some questions. Will it be a five-year hospital or 50-year hospital? Will it be a training hospital? We need to have a proper case study so that we can see what that will look like.
We need to start thinking again and getting our voice out there.
Gary Blackwood, sitting Liberal member for Narracan:
CFA – It is an important issue. If we get government we plan to introduce legislation for protection of our firefighters, both volunteer and professional. We will introduce legislation to protect volunteers and provide surge capacity.
Horseshoe Bend – I’ve worked with them for some time and I’ve probably done as much as I can for them. I would encourage them to keep working with the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.
Funding for a new hospital – We’ve made the announcement that we’ll fund the commencement of construction in our first budget. And we announced that on the basis of need, not political outcome. There’s 27 acres on the current site as opposed to 60 acres on the new site. It will be a 160-bed hospital. The current hospital has 80 beds, so that’s doubling capacity. There’s also the opportunity to add training.
Michael Fozard, independent candidate for Eastern region:
People have asked me why I have decided to run. The system is corrupted and doesn’t give us as a community what we want, it’s giving the people of Melbourne what they want. It is up to us to make a change. We need to have a democracy where we can say everything we think and feel, as long as it’s not hurting anyone.