Five candidates for the seat of Eildon attended and had the chance to introduce themselves and their policies, answer questions and listen to the concerns of voters in the community.
The Healesville Darron Honey Centre was the venue for a Candidates Forum organised by the Healesville Yarra Glen Uniting Church on Tuesday 8 November.
Cindy McLeish (Liberal) spoke about her local credentials. She put forward the case for a change of government with a strong criticism of the record of the Labor government.
Jane Judd (Labor) spoke of her long-term commitment to the local community and passionate advocating for various causes. As a recently announced candidate, Ms Judd said she was still coming to grips with all the policies but assured people that she would be a strong voice in the party room for local issues.
Wil Mikelsons (Greens) said that his family had come to Australia as refugees post WW2 and that their work ethic and commitment had formed the person he is. He outlined some of the issues he is passionate about including saving native forests, stronger action on climate change, tackling the housing crisis and First Nation justice.
Chloe Bond (Animal Justice) who came with her young family put forward the party’s policies aimed at protecting all non-human animals. Improving the protection of pets and eliminating factory farming and hunting. She stressed the need for action on Climate change and the party promotes kindness, equality, rationality and non-violence.
Kammy Cordner Hunt (Independent recommended by the Fusion party) is a resident of Mansfield. She described how seeing effective Independents such as Cathy McGown and Helen Haines in the neighbouring Federal seat of Indi has inspired her to offer herself as a candidate to bring an independent voice into the Victorian parliament. She highlighted the need for stronger action on climate change and an open and accountable government.
Questions were asked about health, feral deer, paying for promises and even bus stops but the area that attracted most questions was logging and the forests.
Ms McLeish and Ms Judd were quizzed about their parties’ support for on-going logging in the light of recent court case findings about the conduct of VicForest’s work.
The majority of questions indicated a deep concern about climate change and the environment.
