WEST Footscray resident Rod Swift has been confirmed as the Greens candidate for the Gellibrand seat in the coming federal election.
Mr Swift said he was standing for the Greens as an alternative voice in Parliament after both Labor and the Liberal parties had ‘‘failed’’ Gellibrand voters.
“The Greens care about our communities and are standing up for what matters to them,” he said.
“Voters want policy alternatives to those offered by the old parties, and I’m especially concerned about the treatment of the most vulnerable people in our community.”
The community campaigner for gay and lesbian human rights organisations is an active member of the Public Transport Users’ Association.
His campaign has been endorsed by former Maribyrnong councillor Janet Rice, a Footscray resident and the party’s lead Victorian senate candidate. Ms Rice said the Liberals ignored Melbourne’s western suburbs because they considered them safe Labor seats.
“Rod is a local, and is passionately committed to caring for people who have been taken for granted for too long,” she said.
“Voters have been telling Rod and me that they’re shocked Labor has treated Gellibrand as a reward for a party loyalist and former staffer [with ALP heavyweight Stephen Conroy] who doesn’t even live here.”
Her comments refer to Labor candidate Tim Watts, who secured the most votes in the local pre-selection ballot and will be running in place of the retiring MP Nicola Roxon in what is the country’s safest Labor seat.
The Liberal party candidate is Seddon’s David McConnell, The Palmer United Party nominee is Altona’s Dwayne Singleton and Footscray doctor John Green is running as an independent.
