By Charlene Macaulay
Werribee South resident and GP Joe Garra has thrown his hat in the ring for the state seat of Werribee.
The 57-year-old, who has lived in Werribee for the past 25 years – the past 11 in Werribee South – will run as an independent candidate in a bid to overthrow Labor’s stronghold in the area.
Dr Garra said his interest was piqued during last year’s youth detention centre campaign, in which he played a key role in the fight to get the government to change locations.
“I realised we were being treated with contempt because we were a safe seat,” he said.
He goes up against incumbent Labor MP Tim Pallas, independent Rachel Carling-Jenkins and Jay Dessi from the Greens. Dr Garra said that if elected, he would advocate doubling the size of Werribee Mercy Hospital.
He would also work to create more jobs in the area, remove the Hoppers Crossing level crossing, establish a train connection between Geelong, Avalon Airport and Werribee, duplicate Ballan and Duncans roads, and connect Wyndham Vale and Manor Lakes to the Princes Freeway.
Dr Garra has been a GP in Werribee for the past 30 years and has delivered about 3000 babies. He is president of the Werribee South Ratepayers Association.
