Meet your Corio candidates

Adam Helman
Pauline Hanson’s One Nation

Occupation: Retired Veteran.

Resides: Lara.

How long have you lived in your electorate? I have lived here for 3.5 years and 15 more in my childhood.

What’s your involvement with the community? I’m a Volunteer fire fighter, and school crossing supervisor.

Are you associated with or have you been associated with a political party or movement? I recently became a member for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.

Who are you preferencing? I am fully committed to support One Nation, and the time for change is now.

What is your campaign budget? Are you receiving financial assistance? Self funded, with some support from my party.

For you, what are the three most important issues in your electorate? Protecting the Australian way of life; by adding Anzac Day to the school curriculum, keeping the Australian flag flying high with pride, honoring our emergency service members, encourage everyone to attend Australia Day celebrations, keeping the classic life style of a family BBQ and cricket in the backyard, and supporting the freedom of speech for everyone.
Youth crime; Incentives to help educate our kids and teach them essential life skills by joining programs such as Scouts, Cadets, Girl Guides and local sporting teams. I would like to see more opportunities for high school age kids to be able to start affordable trade school or higher education to get a head start in life.
Healthcare and family support; I support pensioners, veterans and those with disabilities or on the NDIS, and want to help them be able to return to safe accommodating workforce. I want to support victims of domestic violence by creating more safe places to go. I support people who have ASD to make the condition more aware in our community and accommodating at schools and in the workplace.

Sarah Hathway
Socialist Alliance

Candidate did not respond by deadline

John De Lorenzo
Independent

Occupation: Operations Manager

Resides: Manifold Heights

How long have you lived in your electorate? 3

What’s your involvement with the community? 25 years working in Geelong. Colac Area Health Board Director, Participant Run for Geelong, Walk for Myeloma, Blood Donor

Are you associated with or have you been associated with a political party or movement? No political party association, associated with Democracy First

Who are you preferencing? Not directing preferences.

What is your campaign budget? Are you receiving financial assistance? Very modest, self-funded.

For you, what are the three most important issues in your electorate? Cost of Living Crisis – Stop the band-aid responses both major parties offering short term handouts and rebates, none of which address the real underlying causes. These short-term measures require funding which means other services will be cut or taxes increased. Until we address the causes and introduce real structural changes that deliver real relief, we will continue down the road with people struggling for the basics making choices food, housing or bills this week.
Housing Affordability and Availability Crisis – The demand for private housing, social housing and associated infrastructure is exceeding our current capacity to construct. We need to reduce the demand drivers, such as high levels of immigration until development is back on track. This demand is also contributing to cost increases across the economy.
Health and Community Services Crisis – Lack of bulk billing GP’s clinics is adding to the cost-of-living issues. Urgent Care Centres are designed to reduce waiting list at emergency departments and not replace GP’s. We need to work on prevention and improving health reducing demand and spending in longer term. Seek Improvements to NDIS ensuring taxpayer funds achieve real outcomes and not misused, whilst providing the services required by vulnerable participants and holding service providers accountable.

Emilie Flynn
The Australian Greens

Occupation: Operations and Project Co-ordinator

Resides: Geelong West

How long have you lived in your electorate? Five years

What’s your involvement with the community? I have been involved with an alliance of unions, faith groups and community organisations, a movement to push for social and climate justice at local, state and federal levels. I am Treasurer at a community centre in Corio and a lifetime volunteer, most recently with local food banks. I am a past and present community sports player (beach volleyball, footy, cricket, netball), and an AFLW Cats member. I have spoken with hundreds of community members in the electorate throughout this year and last, about issues that are important to them.

Are you associated with or have you been associated with a political party or movement? I’m proud to be an endorsed candidate of the Greens. I share their commitment to integrity, accountability and community connection. The Greens are leaders in environmental and climate policy.

Who are you preferencing? A vote for the Greens is a vote to keep Dutton out. I’ll be encouraging voters to preference Sarah Hathway second, and to put Labor before the Liberals.

What is your campaign budget? Are you receiving financial assistance? I have fundraised for my campaign from friends, family and community supporters. Unlike the major parties, the Greens don’t accept donations from fossil fuel companies. I’m supported by a wonderful group of dedicated volunteers.

For you, what are the three most important issues in your electorate? People in Corio want real action to fix the housing crisis; bring down the cost of living by taxing big corporations to fund the things we all need, like dental and mental health into Medicare, and they want real climate action, not tinkering around the edges.

Darren Buller
Liberal Party of Australia

Occupation: Group Facilities manager

Resides: Bannockburn

How long have you lived in your electorate? I have lived in the electorate for six-and-a-half years with my wife and four children.

What’s your involvement with the community? I have strong ties to the community. I currently work in the community, and serve as a CFA volunteer in Bannockburn. I understand how important small businesses are to the health of our economy and creating jobs.

Are you associated with or have you been associated with a political party or movement? I am the Liberal candidate for Corio.

Who are you preferencing? That is a matter for the party to recommend.

What is your campaign budget? Are you receiving financial assistance? I am grateful to my party for its financial support of my campaign.

For you, what are the three most important issues in your electorate? I’m meeting hundreds of locals in Corio every day, and the top three issues they are talking to me about are Labor’s cost of living crisis, Labor’s neglect of our local roads and infrastructure, and the scourge of crime that Anthony Albanese has allowed to fester, without any action, across our community.

Richard Marles
Australian Labor Party

Occupation: Member for Corio

Resides: Geelong

How long have you lived in your electorate? I grew up here, went to school here and have raised my family here.

What’s your involvement with the community? I have proudly represented Geelong for nearly 20 years in the federal parliament.

Are you associated with or have you been associated with a political party or movement? Yes, the Australian Labor Party.

Who are you preferencing? I am encouraging everyone in Geelong to put a 1 next to Labor to build Australia’s future and stop Peter Dutton’s cuts.

What is your campaign budget? Are you receiving financial assistance? All donations are declared in accordance with the rules. People from all walks of life have chipped in and donated because they see the importance of stopping Peter Dutton and the Liberals with their policies to cut Medicare, cut free TAFE and cut frontline services.

For you, what are the three most important issues in your electorate? Strengthening our healthcare system through a stronger Medicare and more cost of living relief through cheaper childcare and energy bill relief.