IN the lead up to Saturday’s state election, The Adviser invited the nine district candidates for Shepparton to respond to three key questions. Three candidates replied to the invitation.
Q1: What do you consider to be the number one priority for Greater Shepparton that you (And your party) will act on, if elected in November?
Q2: What do you consider, given the recent flood events, are the most pressing issues regarding the health, wealth and stability of the region moving forward?
Q3: During your time on the ground touring in readiness for the election, what are the major and resounding concerns of the people you hope to represent?
SUZANNA SHEED
INDEPENDENT
Q1: Recovery from the floods is my first task, should I be re-elected. I met with State Government ministers in Shepparton last week to discuss the Housing Taskforce, which will help flood-affected families access short and medium-term accommodation. I will ensure this taskforce is serving our community and I will also make sure that our district gets its fair share of flood recovery funds to fix our flood-damaged roads.
Q2: Flood recovery is my priority. We need the bypass to keep trucks out of Shepparton and Mooroopna CBD and to make sure no community is cut off in times of flooding or other emergency. We must also address the housing shortage and make sure our residents have access to affordable homes, whether it is subsidised, a secure rental, or affordable purchase. We need the opening up of land for development and secure housing solutions.
Q3: The main issues of concern the community raised with me are access to better health services, including mental health services for young people, the unsafe state of our roads, and the need for more comprehensive bus transport to every town in our electorate. Irrigators and people concerned about the viability of our food production are worried about future water buybacks by the Federal Government, to make up the shortfall of water for the environment outlined in the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
CHERYL HAMMER
LIBERAL PARTY
Q1: The provision of health services in the region is the priority, including tackling the workforce shortages we face in the health and medical fields. We are working with GV Health towards the completion of the hospital and have committed to delivering the cancer services and facilities that are critical for treatment of sufferers close to home, as well as the Clinical Health school that will train locally up to 300 nurses, midwives and other allied health professionals a year. We are in desperate need of more GP’s and will work attracting them to our region.
Q2: Hundreds of people have been displaced by floods exacerbating a dire housing environment where housing stock, especially rentals, are already limited and expensive. Having spent time with people who are still recovering from inundation, it is imperative we prioritise mental and physical health. Many farmers and other small business owners have been severely impacted both at home as well as loss to their livelihoods, so supporting these flood victims to rebuild is paramount.
Q3: Education and the lack of choice in public secondary schooling in Greater Shepparton. Our unsafe and deteriorating roads which has caused major and costly damage and delivery of the GV Bypass. The lack of access to a doctor and other medical services due to worker shortages.
Housing, both in the affordable rental market and the cost of purchasing a home.
DIANE TEASDALE
FREEDOM PARTY OF VICTORIA
Q1: We must protect the people from further mandates and lockdowns. Training our young people for employment is important for the future security of the Shepparton Region.
Q2: The people employed to protect us are not doing their job. Flooding was the result of poor management of the water held at Eildon and the lack of maintenance on the levees. Health care is a great worry, especially for the elderly and this must be addressed. We need more housing to encourage our young to stay on and work in Shepparton.
Q3: People are worried about their financial security and the candidates do not seem to have any answers. We need a higher quality of responsible and smart people running the country and this requires political will to find the right people to achieve this.
