IT is one thing voting in your local MP and quite another to get to see them in person.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
For many years, Wodonga residents wanting an appointment with their federal MP have had to travel to Wangaratta.
A single electorate office is usually the norm and if you live in the city, it’s not too hard to make the journey across town.
That’s not such an easy choice if you live in a regional area.
Indi is clearly big enough — under Department of Parliamentary Services rules — to justify a second office.
Former Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella had flagged making such an application for Alexandra.
Ms McGowan’s decision though to seek to open a second office in Wodonga makes more sense.
After all, Wodonga is the largest city in Indi and so such a move would be truly in the interests of democracy.
Having to travel to Wangaratta for an appointment with your local MP was enough for many people not to bother.
It is significant, too, that Ms McGowan is committed to continuing to make the effort to hit the road to ensure her southern Indi constituents are not left out of the loop.
