BENAMBRA candidates Jenny O'Connor (Greens), Bill Tilley (Liberal), Robert Cavedon (Family First) and John Williams (Labor) have put their cases forward in one-minute videos ahead of the Victorian election on November 27.
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Click on the photos to watch each candidate's video.
PLUS:
Greens
AGE: 50
OCCUPATION: Small business operator, Health worker
LIVES: Beechworth
WHY I’M RUNNING: I want to be an effective local representative. I want to take Benambra into the future with progressive, positive approaches to major issues such as water management, health including mental health, addressing the ambulance services issues and dealing with the big picture issues such as climate change.
PROFILE: The nurse and Beechworth shop owner has been a Greens candidate at state and federal elections since 2004. The mother of three’s most recent campaign in August’s federal poll for the seat of Indi saw her increase the Green vote to almost 10 per cent but only half of the party achieved nationally. She has recently been tarred by a flyer produced by her federal opponent Sophie Mirabella under the banner of Loopy Green policies.
Liberal Member for Benambra
AGE: 47
OCCUPATION: Sitting member for Benambra
LIVES: Wodonga
WHY I’M RUNNING: I recognise that this is a great part of Victoria and that we have a unique opportunity to build for the future of Benambra.
I’m committed to fixing the problems and ending the neglect the region has faced. I am all about building Benambra for a better future.
PROFILE: THE ex traffic cop and army officer was the replacement for long-serving Liberal Tony Plowman at the 2006 state election. A bitter battle with Labor’s former Wodonga mayor Lisa Mahood marked the first real committed campaign by the ALP in the seat. Mr Tilley topped the primary vote and benefited from National party preferences. His key issues since 2006 have been the North East rail, police numbers, Wodonga’s ambulance station and fuel reduction burns.
Family First
AGE: 58
OCCUPATION: Director and CEO Game Meats company of Australia
LIVES: Eurobin
WHY I’M RUNNING: I have been married to my wife Grace for 28 years and we have four children together.
I uphold and live by conviction and traditional family moral values while actively support pastorial care for the needy and outcast in the community. I’ve been given an opportunity to establish things most people would consider too hard and won’t work.
Family First will be committed to health, family care, bringing back government subsidies and incentives, and bringing down Labor’s high stamp duty on property. We want to cut the bureaucratic red tape at state government level and give a voice to those who don’t have one.
PROFILE: The Ovens Valley exporter repaid a personal debt to Family First senator Steve Fielding to run at the federal election in August. The senator, who holds a crucial vote in the upper house, helped defeat legislation that would have more than doubled export costs for Mr Cavedon’s Game Meats Company. He won almost 4 per cent of the vote in the federal poll. He is a committed Christian. Mr Cavedon also wants to see the creation of Big Buffalo, a million megalitre dam at Lake Buffalo near Myrtleford.
Labor
AGE: 45
OCCUPATION: Self employed, runs a painting consultancy and home maintenance consultancy
LIVES: Yackandandah
WHY I’M RUNNING: I am been a member of the ALP for the last 12 years and it is my aim to make the seat marginal. I want to make something happen in the seat of Benambra.
PROFILE: The Yackandandah dad will make his third bid for government office after previously unsuccessfully contesting the federal seat of Indi for Labor in 2004 and the Indigo Council election in 2008. Mr Williams runs a seniors’ home help franchise and is a consultant for sales and customer service training. He also is chairman of Beechworth Health, the Wodonga Senior Secondary College school council and former chairman of the Rural Housing Network board. He was the only preselection candidate for the seat.
Country Alliance
HADEN MACAULAY
AGE: 62
OCCUPATION: Operate party hire company
LIVES: Wodonga
WHY I’M RUNNING: As a 3rd or 4th generation of farmers in the region, I have a soft spot for what’s not happening in the rural and regional areas. I enjoy hunting and outdoor sports, and I do not want to stand by and watch as greens policies dictate that we stop everything we are passionate about. I decided to get off my backside and give people a voice, because they’re sick of what others aren’t doing.
PROFILE: This is the son of Wodonga mayor John Macaulay’s first tilt at politics on any level. He was asked to run because of longtime shooting interests. He has runs the Corowa Plant and Party Ware hire business for the past 15 years. Mr Macaulay says his motivation to run was in response to the growing popularity of the Greens.
Mr Macauley was not available to appear in a video before The Border Mail's deadline.
