By Eleanor Wilson
Berwick MP Brad Battin will be forced to work from Melbourne’s CBD for the indefinite future, after Parliament was unable to find him an appropriate office in his electorate.
Mr Battin is currently working from temporary parliamentary offices in St Andrews Place, Melbourne, while Parliament Victoria’s Department of Parliamentary Services continues its search for a permanent location in his South East seat.
Mr Battin, who has served the Gembrook district since 2010, moved out of his office in Officer last week after he was officially declared as the member for Berwick.
The Gembrook District was abolished as part of the 2021 redistribution, with constituents divided into the new seats of Pakenham and Berwick.
The Officer office space has now been occupied by new Pakenham MP Emma Vulin.
Despite the move, Mr Battin assured the community he will still be readily available to service the community.
“I do find it frustrating not being in my electorate, the residents have voted for me to represent them and they expect me to be there for that representation,” he said.
To combat the issue, the shadow minister said he is planning to collaborate with local cafes and community hubs in Berwick to remain accessible to the community until a local office is found.
“From January we will set up a couple of locations in the electorate where we’ll be at the same time each week, for those people who want to pop in for a discussion.
“I’ll spend more time in cafes in Berwick in the next couple of months then I will in my Melbourne office.”
The location and times of these meetings will be communicated via Mr Battin’s social media.
Mr Battin can be contacted at brad.battin@parliament.vic.gov.au
The Department of Parliamentary Services did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.
