By CASEY NEILL
TWO women have nominated to represent the safe APL seat of Dandenong following the announcement by long-serving MP John Pandazopoulos that he won’t contest next November’s state election.
President of the Dandenong branch of the ALP Xiaoli Ma and Gabrielle Williams from Box Hill will contest pre-selection for the seat.
The Doveton-raised 50-year-old Mr Pandazopoulos will have been a state MP for 22 years by the time the next election rolls around.
“Making me the longest-serving Member for Dandenong, the longest-serving member of Greek heritage and currently the longest-serving Labor member in the Legislative Assembly,” he said.
Dandenong has been a safe ALP seat since 1969 and takes in Dandenong, Doveton and Eumemmerring and parts of Dandenong North, Endeavour Hills, Keysborough and Noble Park.
Like so many other teens, Mr Pandazopoulos started his working life at McDonald’s.
He’s held the organiser and senior organiser positions in the Finance Sector Union and was a City of Berwick councillor from August 1987 to August 1991, including a term as mayor in 1990-91.
Mr Pandazopoulos was elected to represent Dandenong in October 1992.
“When we include my time as a councillor and mayor of the then City of Berwick I have been in public life continuously for 26 years,” he said.
“It has been an honour and privilege to have served the people of Dandenong and surrounding suburbs including Doveton, the suburb I grew up in, and to have lived in the electorate for most of my life.”
During his time in government, Mr Pandazopoulos held the tourism and major events, multicultural affairs, major projects, gaming, racing and employment portfolios.
The father-of-two lists enshrining multiculturalism in the Multicultural Victoria Act and the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act among the highlights of his time as an MP.
Work on the Melbourne Convention Centre, Federation Square and Docklands also make the list, alongside legislating for responsible gaming.
Locally, Mr Pandazopoulos pointed to progress on central Dandenong’s revitalisation, makeovers for Dandenong Hospital and Dandenong High School, and EastLink and the Dandenong Bypass.
What do you think about Mr Pandazopoulos’ service to the community? Who would you like to see replace him? Email journal@starnewsgroup.com.au.
