By Lachlan Ellis<\/p>\n
With the state election less than 80 days away, the Liberal Party has officially announced its candidate for the new seat of Eureka \u2013 and he\u2019s a familiar face to many in Moorabool.<\/p>\n
Central Ward Councillor Paul Tatchell was announced as the Liberal candidate for Eureka last week, with the new seat taking in most of Moorabool Shire, Golden Plains Shire, as well as the eastern suburbs of Ballarat including Golden Point, Mount Clear, and Buninyong.<\/p>\n
Mr Tatchell said his candidacy was about getting the voices of regional Victorians heard, with improving country roads, education, and health among his main priorities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been in the \u2018red sea\u2019 for at least seven of the last 20 years. In order to try and put some parity back into the discussion, it helps to have a contest. These elections create opportunities to talk about different ideas for the region. A lot of money\u2019s been spent in Melbourne \u2013 it\u2019s become more of a Melbourne Government than a State Government,\u201d he told the Moorabool News.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s incredibly important that we\u2019re represented in that contest, especially for our region. This election is all about the future, not so much my future, but the future of the region as we mature and grow, and how we do that with balance and the correct infrastructure. We have to make sure that for the third of taxes that we pay as regional people, we get a return on that investment\u2026we haven\u2019t had that in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the topic of AusNet\u2019s Western Renewables Link, which has been a talking point for over two years, Mr Tatchell said undergrounding the powerlines, or rerouting the network using existing easement from Mortlake to Lara as is the Victorian Liberals\u2019 official policy, are both \u201cviable options\u201d.<\/p>\n
What is not viable, he argues, is the current plan proposed by AusNet.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s on the table at the moment just cannot work, and it has to be stopped. The transmission lines issue needs to be taken back to square one and resolved. The draconian way that our region, in particular, has been dictated to over the last few years has left an incredibly sour taste in people\u2019s mouths in terms of representation,\u201d Mr Tatchell said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI accept that representatives have to deal with parties as well as the chamber, but ultimately, good representation is ensuring that people\u2019s views are reflected in party decisions. I don\u2019t think that\u2019s happened\u2026there\u2019s no reason why there can\u2019t be distinct policies for both regional areas and city regions, that can\u2019t align without creating a problem for either.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Tatchell\u2019s main opponent in November will be incumbent Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle, whose seat was abolished following boundary changes in 2021.<\/p>\n
Also contesting the Eureka seat on November 26 are Sam McColl from the Greens, Wendy Morrison from the Animal Justice Party, and Independent Nicola Reid.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Lachlan Ellis With the state election less than 80 days away, the Liberal Party has officially announced its candidate for the new seat of Eureka \u2013 and he\u2019s a familiar face to many in Moorabool. Central Ward Councillor Paul Tatchell was announced as the Liberal candidate for Eureka last week, with the new seat […]<\/p>\n