COMMUNITY advocate Lauren Green will contest the federal seat of Wannon for the Greens, campaigning on climate action, cost-of-living relief and public services in an electorate that was once a Liberal stronghold.<\/p>\n
Wannon, which stretches from Anglesea to the South Australian border, has historically been held by the Liberals, including former prime minister Malcolm Fraser from 1955 to 1983.<\/p>\n
However, in 2022, incumbent Liberal MP Dan Tehan retained the seat with a smaller margin of 3.9 per cent, following a significant swing towards independent candidate Alex Dyson.<\/p>\n
Ms Green said her decision to run was driven by growing frustration with government inaction.<\/p>\n
“I decided to stand because I just think the world is in a pretty bad place right now.<\/p>\n
“There are so many motivations, but honestly, the live-streamed genocide happening right now, the climate crisis, and the government not doing anything about it, that’s a huge motivator for me.<\/p>\n
“I’m raising two young boys, and this isn’t the world I want them to grow up in, so I felt like it was my duty as a mum to step up and take serious action in our communities.”<\/p>\n
Ms Green said cost-of-living pressures were among the biggest concerns she was hearing from voters.<\/p>\n
“In my local community, we have limited childcare, one primary school that’s struggling with growing enrolments, and barely enough infrastructure to keep up.<\/p>\n
“People are struggling with rent and mortgage repayments. Everyone is doing it tough.”<\/p>\n
She said she was eager to engage with voters across Wannon’s mix of coastal, rural and regional communities.<\/p>\n
“My job is to go out, listen and learn.”<\/p>\n
This is Ms Green’s first time running for office, and she said she was approaching it with an open mind.<\/p>\n
“I just want to go in with an open heart and listen to what people need in their communities to make them better and thriving places for families.”<\/p>\n
Ms Green said she felt lucky to live in the region and wanted to protect it for future generations.<\/p>\n
“We live in one of the most beautiful parts of the world, with the Great Ocean Road, the Southern Ocean, and amazing coastal and country towns,” she said.<\/p>\n
“I want to make sure it’s still thriving for our kids and their kids.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
COMMUNITY advocate Lauren Green will contest the federal seat of Wannon for the Greens, campaigning on climate action, cost-of-living relief and public services in an electorate that was once a Liberal stronghold. Wannon, which stretches from Anglesea to the South Australian border, has historically been held by the Liberals, including former prime minister Malcolm Fraser […]<\/p>\n