FIVE candidates will fight for the federal Calwell seat in the August 21 election.
Held by Maria Vamvakinou for the ALP since 2001, Calwell covers about a 504-square-kilometre area from Craigieburn in the east to Sunbury in the west and from Tullamarine in the south to Clarkefield in the north.
As part of our election coverage, the Telegraph asked the candidates three questions:
1. How will you tackle the challenges of rapid growth in Calwell and provide the necessary infrastructure if elected?
2. What do you think are the three main issues that affect Calwell?
3. What do you hope to achieve if elected?
Jeff Truscott, 54
Family First
Logistics
1. We should look at using the $400million for the cash for clunkers scheme on fixing Melbourne's trains.
2.Housing affordability, accessible and affordable housing and reducing crime.
3. Bring balance and common sense to the table as well as keeping an eye on the two major parties.
Wayne Tseng, 40
Liberal Party
Multicultural consultant
1. Our policy is to link infrastructure investment with population growth; secure more funding for more training places and apprenticeships and to link health investment to population growth. This will ensure sufficient beds and clinic are available to address Calwell's needs.
2. Less than sufficient funding for infrastructure, toxic landfills (the eventual impact to the environment has not been addressed by the sitting MP for four years) and doctor super clinics, at the rate it is rolling out it will take 10 years to complete.
3. I will be a more consultative local member. I will have a public hearing every Friday at my electorate office when parliament is not sitting.
Maria Vamvakinou, 51
Australian Labor Party
Sitting MP
1. The ALP, if elected, will provide a $7m GP Super Clinic for more doctors and after-hour GP services. Education will be a priority as will preparing young people for jobs by expanding trades training centres in schools.
I will work with Hume Council and support initiatives to create roads and community facilities like the Hume Global Learning Centre.
2. Promoting the retention and creation of local jobs, helping young people find employment through education and training and address needs of our elderly.
3. I will make it a priority to achieve a trades training centre and have discussed establishing a north western group of parliamentarians to work to lift the profile of mental health issues.
Lenka Thompson, 31
Greens
Hydrologist
1. Achieving a happy and cohesive community depends on sustaining employment and housing, maintaining a robust health system, providing education for all people, establishing a just social welfare system, providing efficient and cost-effective transport and maintaining open space.
2.Quality health care is a basic human right, and a robust public health system is essential. Universal access to high-quality education is fundamental to Australia's prosperity, environmental sustainability, well-being and social fulfilment. Public transport in Calwell must function on principles of ecological sustainability, equity of access, and public ownership of critical public transport infrastructure.
3. A cohesive electorate reflecting an outstanding socially inclusive community with a commitment to each other and the place where they live. .
Peter Byrne, 51
Socialist Equality Party
Architect
1. Lack of infrastructure in Calwell is a result of systematic government underfunding and privatisation. A public works program must be launched to provide employment. This must include the building and repairing of old infrastructure - roads, rail and other public transport systems, renewable energy, public housing, aged and childcare facilities, schools, universities and hospitals.
2. The ongoing neo-colonial wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, which pose a threat of a wider conflagration, mass unemployment and social inequality and climate change.
3. I will champion the building of a mass and international socialist movement of the working class against the failure of world capitalism and the threat of depression and war.
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