THE Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula held a federal candidate forum on Friday 14 February, with candidates from Dunkley and Flinders partaking in the opening salvos of the upcoming campaign.
It was the first time sitting member for Dunkley, Labor’s Jodie Belyea, and Liberal candidate Nathan Conroy have debated this election cycle, but they are by no means strangers, with the hard-fought by-election, called in the wake of Peta Murphy’s death, held only 11 months ago.
Even since Conroy became the Liberal candidate, the two teamed up to wrap gifts together for Community Support Frankston with Conroy admitting to wrapping anything with straight edges, and ceding the more complex wrapping to Belyea.
But Friday was not about the magic of Christmas, but rather the magic of election cycles, with both sides keen to convince the attendees that their team had the best vision for the Dunkley electorate.
Billed as a conversation, rather than a debate, the forum was hosted by respected Australian journalist and current Q+A host Patricia Karvelas.
The conversation between the two candidates was, for the most part, respectful and indicative of two people that have worked closely together in the past. Belyea as the founder of the Women’s Spirit Project, and Conroy as a Frankston City councillor, deputy mayor and mayor.
Asked by Karvelas what Labor had achieved for the electorate of Dunkley, Belyea said “I know that over the last few years we’ve had $220m invested into the community of Dunkley”. On this list of Labor achievements were the Jubilee Park redevelopment, Frankston District Basketball Association stadium redevelopment, two commuter carparks, as well as partnerships with state government on projects such as the Frankston Hospital development.
Conroy was quick to point out that $225m was “whipped away” by the Labor government for the Baxter rail extension. “This is a key advocacy of this committee. As for the community carparks, it was the last Liberal government that funded that.” Belyea conceded “Baxter rail is a contentious topic”. “It was simply not financially viable.”
Debate quickly move to housing affordability and the Frankston Metropolitan Activity Centre Structure Plan. “One of the things I am committed to, via the FMAC, is responsible development,” said Belyea. “I opposed the development of 20 story towers.” Conroy replied with “Following the plan of FMAC, and the revitalisation of Nepean Highway is key for my campaign.”
The debate returned to transport, delving into an area mostly the remit of state government. After a spirited transport debate, Karvelas asked “what’s the number one thing is that the community discussed with you?”. “Cost of living is the most important thing people are talking to me about,” said Belyea. “The Albanese Labor government has been relentless in pursuit of cost of living measures while we’ve been in power. “We’ve been reducing the cost of living.”
Conroy didn’t agree. “Everything is up. They’re stifling the economy. They’re stifling businesses,” he said. “I know many people I speak to are literally surviving. Any further tax or cost of living increase is going to be detrimental to them.”
Belyea brought up the Liberal Party’s nuclear and “long lunch” policies, that she argued do nothing to help people with the cost of living. “People feel left out and forgotten by the Labor Party,” said Conroy.
An audience question asked what the candidates would do to get federal departments to set up national offices in Frankston. Both agreed it was a good idea to pursue. Another question asked about what each candidate would do to pursue Peta Murphy’s legacy to get a ban on gambling advertising.
The Labor government has not adopted the recommendations of what is known as the Murphy Report into gambling advertising (MP calls for ‘strongest’ gambling reform, The Times 17/9/24). Both agreed it was priority.
Asked to make a final pitch to voters, Belyea said “tenacity is a word I would use to describe myself.
“I’m committed to building a community that includes people from all walks of life. “I am committed to being a strong local voice, and delivering for Dunkley.”
Conroy told the attendees that “There is so much red and green tape. They [Labor] can say what they want, but actions… people are just surviving. “It is just this vicious cycle. I’ve never seen a government that is so out of touch with the everyday, hard working Australians. “I have proved myself over the last four years as mayor and deputy mayor to get things done. “You can see Frankston is changing as result of the things we’ve done over the last few years. I will be a champion for the people of Dunkley.”
Karvelas, wrapping up the conversation offered a last word of advice to the two candidates to “play nicely with each other”. Conroy, who still had control of the microphone, allowed the only departure from a robust but respectful tone, replying “Well I played nicely through the by-election, but these people didn’t. I commit to playing nicely this time”. Belyea had a look on her face that only a parent can have. The one where no words are needed to convey the message “I’m not mad. I’m just disappointed”.
First published in the Frankston Times – 18 February 2025
