Independent voice for Bellarine

BELLARINE candidate Sarah Fenton is determined to give voters a viable alternative to the major parties at the state election.

The St Leonards-based local business owner and community leader has put her hand up as an independent candidate to contest the vacated seat at the November 26 poll.

Mrs Fenton is known locally as founder of the Salty Bitches group, which gathers participants for morning ocean swims on the Bellarine.

Salty Bitches started as an exercise and social connection group for a handful of local women and has since grown into an online community of more than 1000 people.

Mrs Fenton said her involvement in the local group had motivated her community-oriented campaigning platform to the upcoming poll.

“I’m very frustrated with the two-party system that we have here in Victoria,” she said,

“Through the Salty Bitches group, I’ve got my community voice of what’s down here. There are some exceptionally passionate community advocates in that group.

“I do understand what the voice of our community is, and I go to listen to what people want.”

While she has no formal affiliation with the collection of “teal” independents that took this year’s federal election by storm, Mrs Fenton said she drew encouragement from their success.

A recent conference hosted by now-MPs and independent trailblazer Cathy McGowan inspired the Bellarine election tilt, which Mrs Fenton said would be similarly centred on economic conservatism with socially progressive policies.

“When you see passionate, strong, independent women being elected into federal parliament because people are sick and tired of the current system, I think that translates here,” she said.

“When I first met them, I was thinking about going local government in two or three years – but then I thought, why don’t I go state?

“I believe in small business and fiscal responsibility, but I also believe in taking care of our community and the most vulnerable.”

Mrs Fenton said environmental protection, planning reform, housing and infrastructure, and public transport were among the key local issues of concern to voters.

On a larger scale, she said she would also push for aged care changes as part of a wider health emphasis, focus on major party integrity and rebuilding small businesses after damaging lockdowns.