Joanne Ryan has been on the move … but not far.
The federal Lalor MP last week relocated her office from a building on Synnot Street, Werribee, that was home to former MP Barry Jones and former prime minister Julia Gillard, to a spot 650 metres down the road at 203 Watton Street.
“I’m thrilled to be in the new office, but this isn’t a decision I made,” she said. “It was made by the Department of Finance.
“The minute I was elected, I was told I wouldn’t be there for long and they were looking for a new office for me.”
She said the new office was more welcoming.
“Last year we saw 5000 residents coming through our office,” she said.
“When people come through their local MP’s doors, it’s often the worst day of their life.
“So we’ve done a lot of work to make sure its customer-friendly: open, airy with space for privacy if they’re upset. That was our main focus.”
Ms Ryan said that as Ms Gillard became deputy prime minister and later prime minister, security levels at the Synnot Street office were increased and it was no longer “fit for purpose”.
“They were always working with the structure they had, but the end result was not a nice place,” she said.
“One resident recently said they felt like they were in a jail.”
