Corangamite candidates quizzed at forum

CORANGAMITE’S candidates faced the voters last week in a public meeting focused on Surf Coast issues.

Hosted by Commerce Torquay, 3228 RA and the Greater Torquay Alliance, the Corangamite Candidates Forum was held at The Sands Resort on Thursday last week.

Moderated by business coach and Commerce Torquay board member Les Watson, the forum drew a field of five of the nine candidates running in the marginal seat – Labor’s Libby Coker, Paul Barker from the Liberal Democrats, Stephen Juhasz from the Australian Federation Party, Alex Marshall from the Greens and Meg Watkins from the Animal Justice Party.

The public event, which ran for almost two hours, gave candidates the opportunity to introduce themselves and speak about their party’s policies as they related to the Corangamite electorate.

Topics raised include the cost of living, wages growth, carbon emissions and climate change.

Liberal candidate for Corangamite Stephanie Asher was a late withdrawal to the forum, and has reportedly decided she will not go to any more community events for the rest of the campaign.

Luke Sorensen from Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, Daniel Abou-zeid from the United Australia Party and Jean-Marie D’Argent from Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party also did not attend.