By Eleanor Wilson
Despite receiving criticism from Labor MPs for “handing out little dobs of money to bribe some votes”, re-elected La Trobe MP Jason Wood said he intends to continue to work with local sporting clubs and community groups throughout his next term of government.
At the Federal election in May, Mr Wood successfully retained his seat of La Trobe, which covers suburbs including Pakenham, Beaconsfield, Clyde, Cockatoo, Emerald, Kooweerup and Nar Nar Goon.
Receiving 58.7 per cent of the two party preferred vote, Mr Wood was one of the few Liberal Party candidates who experienced a swing toward them – an achievement he credits to his work with the local community.
“I’ve pretty much sold a local campaign and I think people recognise that,” he said.
“What went right for us was giving the local community what they wanted and delivering those projects…for me, that’s what a member of parliament does.
“You’ve got two roles as a member of parliament; number one is to be in parliament, to vote for legislation and the second, in your electorate, is to fight to make sure you’ve got the best facilities possible and make life as good as possible for the people living in your electorate.”
Following the appointment of Peter Dutton as leader of the Liberal Party in late May, Mr Wood was assigned the role of Shadow Minister for Community Safety, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs – a role he has some experience with.
During his last term of governance under the Morrison Government, Mr Wood was Assistant minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs, which saw him head community grant programs such as the Safer Communities Fund and Stronger Communities Programme.
The MP counts the Monash Freeway upgrade, Beaconsfield Interchange and upgrades to local sporting facilities as his proudest achievement in his last term of government.
But Labor’s success at the Federal election may place an obstacle in the way of several of Mr Wood’s election promises for his next term.
“I made election commitments, we aren’t in government so I can’t deliver those, but there’s a few I really want to see up and running,” he said.
Among those is Mr Wood’s $12.5 million election proposal for a South-Eastern Multicultural and Community Hub in Pakenham.
The hub would include a multipurpose room to hold events such as Iftars, Navratri, Diwali and Christmas celebrations, as well as a prayer room and learning areas for the local homework club.
“I’ve written to my Liberal counterparts and I’m really hoping the State or Federal Labor government comes out and supports the multicultural hub, which I think is desperately needed,” he said.
Mr Wood said he also plans to use his next term of governance to push for a start to key road projects, including the Racecourse Road and McGregor Road package, which the MP has secured $400 million in funding for.
“We really need State Labor to get on with the Racecourse, McGregor Road package, we’ve now given $400 million, there’s no excuse but to start those projects, the state doesn’t have to put a cent in,” he said.
The former police officer also secured $300 million for upgrades to Clyde Road in Berwick, which would provide an extra lane from the train line over the Monash Freeway in both directions and extra turning lanes North and South out of Kangan Drive.
He said, despite criticism, he would continue to advocate for upgrade to sporting facilities in the La Trobe area, with a particular emphasis on women’s sport.
“My big focus has been upgrading facilities in particular for women’s sport, which have been so bad in the electorate, to make sure they have the same facilities as the blokes,” he said.
“Berwick [Football and Netball Club] the girls now have their own change room – before they didn’t even have a toilet.
“Upper Beaconsfield sporting complex, Nar Nar Goon Netball club and Cora Lynn Football club, I won’t forget those and I’ll make sure it’s my priority to do everything we can to get those up and running and it’s only gonna happen if the Federal Labor government put funding into sporting clubs.”
