By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Casey-based state Labor MPs Judith Couacaud Graley and Luke Donnellan have come under fire for living about 40 kilometres away from their electorates.
Ms Graley, a Narre Warren South MP, said she lived in the bayside town Mt Martha to be close to friends and family.
Ms Graley said that she had been re-elected to her seat three times by voters on the back of a “strong record” including new roads, schools, jobs and Casey Hospital’s expansion.
“I listen to local residents and I respond by getting things done that matter to their families.
“Three times the Liberal Party had run lazy and incompetent nuff nuffs against me, candidates who didn’t listen or care about the issues that matter to local families.
“The Liberal Party has done absolutely nothing for this vibrant and growing electorate, and local residents know that.”
Ms Graley also took aim at the “many useless” Casey councillors that “neglect and avoid local residents” unless “there is an opportunity to run as a Liberal candidate in a State Election”.
Mr Donnellan, who lives in inner-suburb Fitzroy North rather than his Narre Warren North seat, confirmed via a spokesman that he didn’t live in the electorate, but offered no further explanation.
“Luke doesn’t live in his electorate,” the spokesman stated.
Eastern Victoria Liberal MP Edward O’Donohue accused the two parliamentarians of treating their electorates with “contempt”.
“Judith Graley in the past has promised to move into her electorate. Why hasn’t she?” Mr O’Donohue said.
“How can the Roads Minister (Luke Donnellan) understand the daily frustration of his constituents with traffic delays and congestion, when he lives in a leafy inner suburb, far removed from such daily challenges?”
The issue came to light after a report in Fairfax Media on 21 February.
It stated that 13 government MPs, including seven ministers, live outside their electorates.
