BERWICK
Suburbs include Berwick, Beaconsfield, Clyde North and parts of Harkaway, Guys Hill, Beaconsfield Upper and Officer.
The seat of Berwick was reinstated this year, after it was removed as an electorate in 2002.
1. Where do you live and how long have you lived there?
2. Why did you choose to run for the seat?
3. Why are you the best candidate for Berwick?
4. Biggest three issues in your electorate and how will you tackle them?
5. How would you tackle the shortage of affordable homes in Berwick?
6. Casey hospital is still struggling to keep up with patient demand. What would you do to alleviate the pressure on Casey Hospital?
Brad Battin (Liberal)
Age: 46
Occupation: Local MP
1. Berwick (Same house since 2013, same estate since 2001, and I have lived in Casey for 46 years (Rented for 6 months in Cardinia in 2013).
2. After the seat of Gembrook was abolished, I opted to run in Berwick. I committed to the community to only ever run where I live, and I live in Berwick.
The Berwick Seat has many communities, and over the years I have proudly learned the many cultures, events and celebrations that make our community great. As we continue to grow I will remain an active part of delivering sports, facilities and infrastructure that promotes a cohesive community.
3. I know and understand the area and community well. I understand the pressures we all feel, when you are stuck in traffic on Clyde Rd, I am stuck in traffic on Clyde Rd, when businesses were closed in lockdown in the area, it was my friends who lost work in the local area. I have raised my children locally and we continue to live in an area I love.
It is so important to have these connections so as an MP you stay grounded and never forget who put you here. I have a track record of putting the community first in parliament, and will continue to do this.
Berwick is my home, for too long Labor MP’s who say they represent the area live either in the city or many kilometres away on the beach. This community should not be taken for granted, and I guarantee that as my key commitment.
4. Cost of Living: A Liberal Government will remove 7 taxes in Victoria after Labor added or increased 43 to cover their $169.5 billion debt since coming into government in 2014. The Liberal Party will reduce public transport fares to $2 all day, every day. We will remove Stamp Duty up to $55,000 for first home buyers and we will have a financial plan to get Victoria back on track that is sensible and targets less taxes on people, not more.
Transport: For many years Labor have promised a railway to Clyde, for each year they have failed to deliver. I am proud to be part of a team that is committed to the community needs, and we will deliver a railway line to Clyde, with a station at Cranbourne East. It is long overdue and we need to start work now. It is not only public transport but roads we will invest in, potholes are everywhere, and a Liberal Government will invest $10 billion into road maintenance over 10 years to improve roads across the state. This is on top of our $175 million investment to upgrade Berwick-Cranbourne Road.
Mobile Phone Reception: This is far bigger in the south of the electorate, but expands across the area. The major issue is planning rules that cause major delays for major telcos in the area. Telstra, Optus and Vodafone want new towers, but with the planning delays can take years to deliver. A Liberal government will change the legislation and ensure towers are planned earlier for growth areas.
5. The Liberal Party is committed to tackling housing affordability in two direct ways. We firmly believe and support home ownership should be an achievable goal. I was disappointed when Daniel Andrews said young people today are not focused on owning a home, they would prefer to rent. The local young people I meet have ambitions to own a home. Only a Liberal Government will fast track 150,000 blocks of land in Victoria to put downward pressure on the housing market, this is a sensible approach. We will also remove stamp duty for first home buyers up to $55,000 to assist them get ahead. More details on my website.
6. In 2018 the Andrews Labor Government promised 10 new Community Hospitals to be open and assisting the community by 2022. Not one was delivered. A Liberal Government will deliver a real hospital, a second campus of Casey Hospital in Cardinia with 150 beds, a maternity department and urgent care. This election to ease the pressure on Casey, you can only vote Liberal to build a real hospital for Pakenham, not just another GP clinic.
Kerry Haupt (Freedom Party Australia)
Age: 49
Occupation: I am a Registered Nurse, Registered Midwife, and a Maternal and Child Health Nurse (non-practicing). I worked at the Beaconsfield and Upper Beaconsfield Health Centre until November 2021. I’m currently employed as a nesting and purchasing co-ordinator.
1. I live in Pakenham and have done so for more than 10 years.
2. As a former health care professional of 30 years and the last six years employed as a Maternal and Child Health Nurse working within the electorate, I have been prompted to stand up for the children, their families and the community. I have witnessed politicisation of the pandemic, including inconsistencies in the mandates. The variation between states appear to be influenced by political parties rather than actual health advice.
3. As a candidate with comprehensive health care experience, I can evaluate the failures and harm caused to the public. I am a passionate advocate for informed consent and respecting an individual’s right to free choice. I believe in treating others fairly and equally, with respect and dignity. Inequality and discrimination are unreservedly intolerable and must be excluded from a democratic society.
4. Cost of living – escalating interest rates and rent, and substantial increases in the cost of utilities and everyday essentials. Our solution: assist in reducing the cost of living by improving the affordability of fuel, energy, food and housing. Implementation of a 5 per cent reduction target on all government spending. End the Andrews’ Labor Government moratorium in order to access Victoria’s known current gas reserves. We need investment in and advancement of the Victorian energy sector, together with lower cost, clean and reliable energy sources.
Health care crisis – extended wait times for emergency services and in the hospital, and demoralised, over-worked health care staff.
Our solution: End the COVID-19 vaccination mandates and reinstate the thousands of healthcare workers who were dismissed due to non-compliance with the mandates.
Remove the threat of health professionals being de-registered by AHPRA for discussing new evidence released about COVID-19 and the vaccinations. Open debate and continually improving practices are the foundation of medicine.
Potholes! But seriously, let’s fix the roads.
5. Inflation has been caused by the excessive Andrews’ Labor government spending. Victoria is forecast to have more debt than Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania combined. We will put a stop to this irresponsible government spending to reduce Victoria’s increasing debt. We will also reform the bureaucratic red tape that’s adding thousands of dollars to a new home build.
6. We must recognise that the vaccines have been ineffective in stopping the spread of COVID-19, as demonstrated by case numbers, and to reinstate all healthcare staff that were sacked due to the vaccination mandate. Bring an end to healthcare employee COVID-19 testing. Fully vaccinated staff are sent home after producing positive COVID-19 tests. Increased sick leave results in wards being left short staffed and patient admissions delayed. Implement a shadow health ministry that is entirely focused on promoting real health to Victorians, utilising proven methods such as exercise, lifestyle and nutrition.
Hayley Perry (Australian Greens)
Age: 40
Occupation: I own and run an advertising agency based here in the South East, I also work part time as a Project Coordinator.
1. I currently live in Narre Warren North with my husband and two children. I grew up and went to High School in Berwick and am a carer for my Mum who still lives in Berwick. I have lived in the area for the vast majority of my life.
2. The two old parties are failing us. We are facing a cost of living crisis, healthcare crisis, housing affordability crisis and a climate crisis to mention a few. With so many concurrent crises facing Berwick District it is clear that things need to change. The Greens offer a viable alternative to the parties that are no longer serving our best interests.
3. Because I am genuine and would advocate for the community with integrity and accountability. I live in the area, face similar struggles to those I am advocating for and the only vested interest that I have is for the citizens in the area and for the next generation. I want my children to be able to afford to purchase a home in the area they grew up in, to have a good education and to not have to face the devastating impacts of the climate crisis.
4. Cost of living- people are struggling to keep their head above water with the cost of everything going up while wages have flatlined. The Greens will implement policies to bring down the cost of energy, education and transport. We will be able to do this by making big corporations pay their fair share of tax.
Housing affordability- people are struggling to find a rental they can afford let alone even dream of purchasing their own home. The Greens will push to end the special treatment for big property developers and make them pay their fair share for more affordable homes.
The Climate Crisis- this is all encompassing, if we don’t take meaningful action not only will we see more frequent and more extreme weather events such as the recent ongoing floods. We will also see the cost of living continue to rise- $15 iceberg lettuce anyone? The Greens climate action plan includes replacing coal and gas with 100% renewable energy by 2030, while protecting workers and creating new jobs, ending native forest logging and financial support for households to go gas-free.
5. The housing market is broken. To fix it we need to stop the special treatment given to big property developers, handing them huge profits instead of making sure everyone has an affordable home.
The Greens plan is for a big build of 100,000 homes over the next decade, we’ll also ensure property developers allocate affordable homes to first home owners.
The Greens would also see rent increases controlled in line with wage growth, stronger protections from evictions, and longer term leases so renters can make their rentals their homes.
6. I have recently experienced first hand the pressures that Casey hospital is under. I called an ambulance for my Mum last week, we waited an hour and a half for it to arrive. The paramedics advised that they had been ramping with the previous patient for three hours. We then sat in Emergency for almost 6 hours waiting to receive treatment. Casey Hospital is clearly struggling.
The Greens have committed to a series of pragmatic solutions: Valuing our health staff and fighting burnout by increasing their wages and getting rid of the Labor government’s public sector wage cap.
Employing more GP’s and nurses so that people can get the care they need to help stay out of hospital.
Funding 500 more psychologists and psychiatrists in schools and public clinics, so more people with mental health issues can get the support they need before they end up in emergency.
Investing more in aged care, disability and rehab beds outside hospitals- freeing up beds for patients arriving in ambulances.
No response: Malik Zaveer (ALP), Katheirne Dolheguy (Animal Justice Party), Joel van der Horst (Family First Victoria).
