Keep direct voice for Torquay, Hussein says

TORQUAY and Jan Juc have benefited from direct representation to state government and could keep doing so despite being in a new electorate, according to Polwarth Labor candidate Hutch Hussein.

The two towns were previously in the Labor-held district of South Barwon but will officially move into Liberal-held Polwarth as of November 1 ahead of the November 26 state election.

Held by Richard Riordan since 2015, Polwarth expanded to the north in an electoral redivision to account for population growth in Armstrong Creek.

Speaking at an event at the Spring Creek Reserve clubrooms last week alongside Treasurer Tim Pallas, Ms Hussein said voters would be wise to keep Polwarth in the party of government (assuming Labor retains power).

Hutch Hussein said Polwarth had become marginal since it had expanded to include Torquay and Jan Juc.

“Torquay has been very fortunate in being part of South Barwon so it has seen the value of having a direct voice to government in terms of Darren Cheeseman as a champion, who has supported many of the sporting clubs and many of the community groups in this area.

“Polwarth has been held by conservative MPs for 133 years so they’ve never had a Labor MP, and they’ve never had a woman MP, so [Torquay] is going into an area that’s previously regional and rural.

“Part of my goal in seeking to represent this area is to make sure that we continue to see this direct voice, we continue to see that commitment to Torquay, its burgeoning population and the infrastructure. What’s at risk is losing that at this election.”

She said the margin in Polwarth had shrunk from 6 per cent to 2 per cent, making the seat marginal and thus winnable.

Mr Pallas – who has known Ms Hussein for 20 years – said Ms Hussein was “an unstoppable force of nature” and Labor hoped to see regional representatives like her elected to Parliament.

He said Labor had a plan for continued investment in 2023 and beyond.

“It’s about not wasting a day – as a government, we’ve always taken the view that the truth is every day that passes is a day that brings you closer to the day you’re no longer in government, so you’ve got to use it.”