Labor leader picked for state ballot

TORQUAY resident Hutch Hussein says she wants to break new ground and become the first woman elected to the seat of Polwarth.

Ms Hussein earned preselection as Labor’s candidate for the November state election, with the seat to include Torquay for the first time at this year’s poll.

Ms Hussein, 46, was born in Melbourne to migrant, Turkish Cypriot parents and lived most of her life in the city’s outer western suburbs, before moving to the Surf Coast in 2018.

She is a former president of the ALP’s Victorian branch and served in the top role from 2016 to 2019 as the first person from a Muslim background or from the LGBTQ community to do so.

The new candidate trained as a social worker with a focus on working with young people, people from refugee or migrant backgrounds and people experiencing family violence.

Her career saw her ascend to leading roles in community organisations and charities and in politics; including as a policy adviser for education and women in the Bracks Government and national co-convener of Emily’s List, which aims to boost election of progressive women.

Ms Hussein said addressing workforce shortages and ensuring vital infrastructure kept pace with population growth were top of her campaigning agenda.

“Torquay has been home for my young family and I for the past four years,” Ms Hussein said.

“As a resident with connections to the local community, I feel great pride in having the opportunity to contest this vibrant regional seat on behalf of the ALP.

“The opportunity to serve the people of this electorate, to win their trust to represent key concerns as a committed local representative, would be a humbling experience for me.”

Ms Hussein is also seeking to become Labor’s first Polwarth member in the 133-year history of the seat.

Polwarth has historically been a conservative stronghold since its inception in 1889, and has remained in Liberal hands since 1949.

Richard Riordan has held the seat for the Liberals since a 2015 by-election and won the 2018 poll with a 5.4 per cent two party-preferred margin from Labor. Victorians head to the ballot box on November 26.