![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/01\/JoeMcCrackenandJulia_26159.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Mr McColl also believes First Nations justice must be central to any vision for a fairer Victoria.<\/p>\n
“We can’t talk about fairness or justice without listening to First Nations people and respecting their leadership, connection to Country and right to self-determination,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Truth-telling and Treaty matter, and they need to be backed up with real action, not just words.”<\/p>\n
Ballarat-based Liberal upper house member Joe McCracken, meanwhile, has made public his intention to quit politics.<\/p>\n
He said he felt unable to fully commit to the job for another four years.<\/p>\n
“I’ve been looking at where I am in life, and I want to focus on growing a family and looking after my health,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Politics is a very demanding job and it deserves 100 per cent commitment. I can’t give that commitment for the next four years.”<\/p>\n
Mr McCracken, a former Colac-Otway Shire councillor and mayor, was elected in 2022 and has been a Liberal Party member for more than 19 years.<\/p>\n
He will serve out the remainder of his term but will resign as opposition cabinet secretary and assistant minister for education.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Greens have announced emergency services worker and long-time community volunteer Sam McColl as the party’s candidate for Eureka in the November Victorian election. In a statement, the Greens said Mr McColl has spent his adult life working in public service and community-focused roles, along with more than a decade volunteering in emergency and community […]<\/p>\n