Labor in pole spot

THE race to the polls is on, and campaigning has begun for three seats covering the City of Greater Dandenong.
While the electorate of Hotham is seen as a safe Labor seat, Isaacs will be contested by the Greens Party and a Liberal candidate has joined the running for the Bruce seat.
The Australian Labor Party has dominated the three seats for the past two decades.
Labor has held the Hotham since 1980, Isaacs since 1996 and Bruce since 1996.
Isaacs MP Mark Dreyfus, who won his seat in November 2007, said he was proud of the party’s economic achievements, education record and paid parental leave.
He said key issues continued to be creating and maintaining jobs in the area, investing in schools and recreational facilities and health.
He is being challenged by Greens candidate Chris Carman.
“I am very passionate about a lot of issues such as health and education, which are fundamental to the community,” he said.
Bruce MP Alan Griffin, who is the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel, said he had developed a strong understanding of community needs from his involvement with the Government in the past 17 years.
His challenger, Mike Kabos, said a major issue for the area was cost of living and employment.
“People are concerned about their futures,” he said.
“We also find that Noble Park and Dandenong have high unemployment rates and nothing has really changed.”
Hotham MP Simon Crean, who is Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and Social Inclusion, has been touring with Prime Minister Julia Gillard this week.
His seat is seen as safe, and no other candidates have yet stepped up to the challenge.