Almost half the candidates standing in Tarneit remain silent on the most significant issues facing local voters at next week’s state election.
The ALP’s Tim Pallas has held Tarneit since 2006, but he will contest the neighbouring seat of Werribee on November 29.
The electorate covers Tarneit, Williams Landing and Laverton North and parts of Hoppers Crossing, Truganina and Mount Cottrell.
Ten candidates will contest the seat, including representatives of the ALP, the Liberal Party, Voice for the West, the Greens, Australian Christians, Family First, Rise Up Australia Party, as well as three independents.
Following the close of nominations last Friday, Star Weekly asked candidates to nominate what they believed to be the most significant issues facing the electorate.
Four candidates – Liberal Dinesh Gourisetty, Rise Up Australia’s Clement Francis, Family First’s Seelan Govender and independent Chin Loi failed to respond before deadline.
Of the candidates who did respond, Greens candidate Rohan Waring said addressing traffic congestion would be his top priority.
“We will increase public transport and make it more reliable,” he said. “We will also make sure infrastructure spending is based on need – not how marginal the area is.”
ALP candidate Telmo Languiller, who was first elected to Parliament in 1999 and has been the Derrimut MP since 2006, said improving education was a must.
“Labor will save TAFE and invest in school infrastructure,” he said.
Australian Christians candidate Lem Baguot said creating jobs and apprenticeships was crucial. Voice of the West’s Abdul Mujeeb Syed said schools, public transport and addressing the “neglect of the west” were his major concerns.
Independent Safwat Ali put forward fixing roads as his top priority, while fellow independent Joh Bauch said he would focus on improving public safety.
“The only police station in the electorate is Wyndham North at Tarneit, which operates from 7am to 11pm daily – it is grossly inefficient and unsafe,” he said.
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