Russell Broadbent - Liberal

Sitting Liberal member Russell Broadbent is seeking to be elected to represent Monash (renamed from McMillan for the 2019 election) for the eighth time.

He said he stood by his record of achievement for the electorate over his time in parliament against those that make promises for the future that can’t be delivered.

However, he is taking nothing for granted in a seat that he has previously lost to the Australian Labor Party.

Mr Broadbent said the major issue raised with him by constituents was the state of roads.

“People talk to me about the roads, councils talk to me about the roads, farmers talk to me about the roads,” he said, stating that in Baw Baw Shire alone the Federal government had provided almost $49 million during the current financial year through a range of roads, bridges, black spot and and community infrastructure programs.

Mr Broadbent said sustainability and climate change had also been a key issues raised at forums he’s attended during the election campaign and he believed the coalition government was on the right track with is progress towards a nett zero carbon emissions target by 2050.

He said Australia had become a world leader in the adoption of solar generated electricity with 40 per cent of households now having solar panels on their roofs and the government was working on more secure power sources with battery “back-ups” to the electricity grid to maintain vital communications during disasters.

He said the government had a good record of looking after the environment and there were new things that were progressing for further improvements and initiatives.

“Farmers are very conscious of sustainability and are adopting new methods, especially in soil conservation, and Gippsland could potentially be a world leader in soil improvement that would lift farm efficiency and productivity”.

Mr Broadbent said he was also supportive of wind farms for electricity generation, such as the proposed “Star of the Sea” project off the South Gippsland coast, but was behind local residents that oppose a 43 turbine wind farm at Delburn in the Strzelecki Ranges.

It’s in the wrong location, he said.

Working with state and local governments on sporting facility upgrades throughout the electorate to increase participation and install appropriate facilities for females, especially in non-traditional female sports such as football and cricket, was also a major consideration for Mr Broadbent who advocated the establishment of joint federal-state government dedicated funds towards achieving the objective.