POLITICIANS who may ultimately vote in Canberra to decide if same-sex marriage is legalised in Australia have declared their intentions in the marriage equality survey mailed out to Australian voters. Local federal Liberal MPs Chris Crewther (Dunkley), Greg Hunt (Flinders) and Labor’s Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs) have advised they will personally vote “yes” in response to the question “Should the law be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry?” mailed out to all Australians listed on the electoral roll last week. There are however different views on voting in line with the postal survey outcome in their respective electorates. Mr Crewther…
Author: Neil Walker
THE state government authority tasked with removing level crossings along the Frankston line is not for turning on a decision to close Eel Race Rd in Carrum. The Level Crossing Removal Authority, a Department of Transport body established to manage the separation of rail and road at level crossings throughout Victoria, has stood by an announcement to close the road rather than build rail over or under Eel Race Rd. Some Carrum residents fear being “landlocked” and say there will be traffic jams at the McLeod Rd intersection if Eel Race Rd is sealed off to motorists. State Liberal opposition…
ALLEGATIONS that independent reports into the dumping of asbestos-riddled soil at Bicentennial Park in Chelsea late last year were “changed … under pressure” have been aired in state parliament. Liberal state Upper House MP for the South Eastern Metropolitan Region Inga Peulich last Thursday (7 September) voiced concerns about Kingston Council investigations into “the illegal dumping of asbestos” in Bicentennial Park. Ms Peulich has called on Labor Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings to instruct the Local Government Investigations and Compliance Inspectorate to step in and investigate. “I have come to receive some very detailed notes of actions surrounding the…
A BANNER to welcome refugees visiting Frankston Council offices has been shot down by councillors. A majority of councillors at this month’s public council meeting declined to back a proposal by deputy mayor Cr Steve Toms to hang a banner targeted at asylum seeker newcomers to Frankston at the civic centre in Davey St. “Refugees often feel nervous and untrusting of government services like Frankston City Council when approaching them due to the fleeing of countries with violent dictatorships,” Cr Toms said at the meeting. “[It would be] a tangible hand of friendship to our city’s new arrivals in our…
A FRANKSTON councillor is pushing for council employees throughout Victoria to be subject to a single enterprise bargaining agreement. Cr Colin Hampton, who described himself as a former EBA negotiator “in the newspapers business” at this month’s public council meeting, claimed staff at councils are paid more than employees in other sectors. “Local government is between 15 and 17 per cent above the national wage in this country because the unions have got such an open hand in negotiating,” Cr Hampton said at the council meeting. The councillor, a longtime Labor Party member, said unions had the upper hand in…