By Molly Magennis
Less than a week out from the federal election, Hobsons Bay mayor Peter Hemphill has expressed his disappointment at the lack of funding commitments for the seat of Gellibrand, stating that the electorate has been left “high and dry” by both major parties.
Alongside Hobsons Bay, the electorate of Gellibrand covers parts of Wyndham and Maribyrnong, and is considered a very safe Labor seat, with the party having won the seat since 1972.
Labor candidate Tim Watts, who has held the seat since 2013, has made only three commitments for Gellibrand if an Albanese government is elected on Saturday, none of which are the key projects the Hobsons Bay community has been lobbying for for years, a state-of-the- art Wetlands Centre and a Western Aquatic and Leisure Centre.
Council is seeking to fund these projects on a one-third split with state and federal governments, having already committed $5 million towards the $16 million Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre and $20 million to the Western Aquatic project.
“Much lobbying has been done by myself and the administration to promote the benefits of these two projects and others on our “wish list”,” Cr Hemphill said.
If Labor is victorious, Mr Watts has promised to cut electricity bills for Altona residents via a community battery, committed $500,000 upgrade to the women’s change room facilities at Downer Oval and said he will tackle the GP shortage crisis by making Wyndham a Distribution Priority Area.
Liberal candidate Monica Clark has so far promised nothing.
Mr Hemphill said these commitments were dismal in comparison to those made to wealthier electorates in the east, such as Chisolm and Dunkley, both of which are marginal key seats.
“We are now about a week out from the federal election and there has been little commitment from the major parties, particularly when you look at the cash splash in the eastern and south eastern electorates,” he said.
“Disappointingly, it appears that this election campaign has again demonstrated that the less likely a seat is to change, the less likely it is to attract funding commitments from the major parties.
“The west deserves better. Our community deserves better.”
In response to the mayor’s comments, Mr Watts said if re-elected, he would continue to advocate for projects important to the community as he has done over the past nine years.
“Only an Albanese Labor Government will deliver for Melbourne’s west after nine years of being ignored by successive Liberal-National governments.”
Ms Clark was contacted for comment.
