WHILE tens of thousands of holidaymakers descend on the Mornington Peninsula over summer, official statistics show record numbers of residents are out of work. While locals may appear to be on holidays, the federal electorate of Flinders – covering most of the peninsula from Mornington south and across to Hastings and including Phillip Island – has had one of the highest jumps in unemployment across Australia. A drop of 4.8 per cent in job participation rates puts Flinders as the second worst hit electorate in in the country. Neighbouring Dunkley (Mornington, Mt Eliza and Frankston), saw a 3.1 per cent…
Author: Keith Platt
LEADERS from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association’sa mosque in Langwarrin “categorically and unequivocally” condemned the Sydney siege that led to the deaths of two hostages held at gunpoint in a cafe by Man Haron Monis. Monis, who forced hostages to hold up a flag proclaiming “There is no god but Allah and Mohammad is his messenger” was shot dead after police stormed the Lindt Cafe early Tuesday morning. In Sydney for a conference during Monday’s siege in Martin Place, Ahmadiyya spokesman Aziz Bhatti said Islam “categorically rejects all kinds of violence and killings of innocent people”. In the wake of the…
FRANKSTON Council is banking on the $12 billion development of a container port at Hasting to achieve one of its main aims: jobs. Frankston mayor Cr Darrel Taylor said an “impact analysis” of the expanded port by consultants GHD estimated an average 400 jobs being created each year over the next 30 years. “Frankston is strategically positioning itself as the government and commerce hub for the Port of Hastings given our proximity, lifestyle attributes and metropolitan activity centre status,” Cr Taylor said. His statement was issued in the same week that Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor criticised a Labor Party proposal…
A MOTHER and daughter are hoping to win neighbouring seats for the Labor Party at the November state election. While Sonia Kilkenny has already been appointed the candidate for Carrum, her mother Raelene Kilkenny still needs the party’s blessing to contest Frankston. The 73-year-old nominated for preselection on Thursday but will have to wait until next Thursday (24 July) to find out if she is successful. Lined up against her for Labor’s endorsement is Paul Edbrooke, a fireman who, at 35, is less than half Ms Kilkenny’s age. Ms Kilkenny describes herself as “old and disabled” and believes Frankston should…
THE mayor of Frankston and five former mayors are blaming the city’s woes on 40 years of broken promises by state politicians. In a letter to the Premier Denis Napthine and Labor leader Daniel Andrews the mayors vividly describe crime and drug use in Young St and say there is “never any substantial action” no matter which party is in power. The mayors say $3 million has been wasted on three reports. The most costly report recommended spending $600,000 developing a “safe and attractive transit interchange”. Pointedly, the mayors left Frankston MP Geoff Shaw off their mailing list. The former…