Kilmartin to run for Buninyong

BY ALAN MARINI

FORMER radio journalist Andrew Kilmartin has been selected as the Liberal candidate for Buninyong at the November state election.

Mr Kilmartin worked at 3BA as well as other radio stations and has also worked in politics.

“The three things I would like to see happen are energy prices – there are too many families struggling. I spoke to a woman in Sebastopol and she was telling me how she had to cut her gas off because it was too expensive. She is now filling up the bathtub with the kettle.

“Energy prices have gone up 85 per cent in less than two years and my community can’t keep up with that. That is my main priority – to make that more affordable for people.

“The other thing people are concerned about in Ballarat is rise in crime. It’s up 11.9 per cent since the Andrew’s Government got in, in 2014. We having falling police numbers here, there 18 less front line police in Ballarat. People are also sick of the police arresting people and then they give the magistrates a sob story and get a slap on the wrist.

“The main concern of Buninyong is that they don’t have a 24 hour police station and if Ballarat is busy they can’t get cops out here and we have the Midland Highway, which often has accidents.

“It’s also tough for surrounding towns like Haddon, Meredith, Elaine, Linton – when these places need a cop at night time they often have to come from Bacchus Marsh. I want to push for more police in this area.

“The other thing is we need to push for a by-pass of Buninyong. We need to push VicRoads for some options soon. That’s a huge issue for Buninyong.”

On his door knocking of the Buninyong electorate Mr Kilmartin said he was told on many occasions that they have not seen a politician at their door for years.

“That tells me that the seats have been take for granted for a long time,” he added. “I am out there trying to talk to people and discus issues, every day.”

Labor’s Geoff Howard currently holds the seat, which was first contested in 2014, although after 19 years in parliament he is not contenting the upcoming election.

The margin of victory after preferences at that election was 1.6 per cent. The ALP candidate this time around is Michaela Settle.