ACCUSATIONS of political “thuggery” in Frankston have begun to fly in the lead-up to November’s state election. An online pro-choice campaign targeting independent Frankston MP Geoff Shaw over his anti-abortion stance is being directed from behind the scenes by a trade union. The ‘Never Going Back’ website at www.nevergoingback.org.au states: “[Premier] Denis Napthine is helping ex-Liberal MP Geoff Shaw draft legislation to overhaul Victoria’s abortion laws and undermine Victorian women’s right to choose, all so he can cling to government.” Internet registry records show Victorian Trades Hall Council industrial and campaigns officer Luke Hilakari registered the Never Going Back website’s…
Author: Neil Walker
POLITICAL campaigning in marginal bayside seats is starting to heat up ahead of November’s state election with train services on the Frankston line again on track to be a major bone of contention between both major political parties. A slick Liberal Party website that vows to tell “the truth about how the Frankston line is being improved” is the latest weapon in the political battle between both major parties in the marginal bayside ‘sandbelt’ seats. Domain name registration records show the name www.frankstonline.com.au was registered by ‘the Liberal Party of Australia Victorian Division’ last month before the website went live…
A SLICE of Langwarrin land put up for sale failed to attract any bids at auction last Friday after environmentalists made it clear to prospective buyers it would be difficult to build residential homes on the land. Several environmental groups including the Frankston Environmental Friends Network and the Defenders of the South East Green Wedge attended the midday auction to protest that a sales pitch for the land at 565 McClelland Dve had classed the area as ‘residential’. Harcourts real estate agent Michael Spring said the protesters had been “very nice and civil” and he had no problem with them…
A NEWLY opened Frankston restaurant inadvertently found itself at the centre of a political stoush last week after Liberal candidate for Frankston Sean Armistead called the manager of The Groove Train a “union buster” on Twitter. Mr Armistead, who was attending a Liberal Party fundraiser for his election campaign at the restaurant last Sunday evening (13 July), faced a protest outside the venue by firefighters unhappy about a long-running pay and conditions dispute with the Coalition state government. High-profile former Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella’s presence at the dinner event seemed to have fired up some hostility between the protesters and…
AN ambitious plan to install sculptures at the Frankston station precinct will be considered by council but faces a major funding hurdle. Former mayor Christine Richards and the six members of the Frankston Business Coalition – a group of businesspeople lobbying political parties for a better deal for Frankston ahead of this year’s state election – have urged councillors to “be bold” and back the proposal to erect seven sculptures at the station. The sculptures would be relocated from the McClelland Gallery in Langwarrin to Frankston’s city centre. Ms Richards and McClelland Gallery CEO Robert Lindsay presented the plan, first…