Prospects much safer

– Shaun Inguanzo
MARK Dreyfus has won Isaacs and transformed it from a marginal seat into a safer Labor prospect for future elections.
The high-profile Queens Counsel has beaten Liberal opponent Ross Fox with a swing of 6.4 percent and said he was ‘honoured’ to be Isaacs MP in his first foray into federal politics.
“It is a humbling experience to be extended the trust and confidence of the people of the electorate,” he told Star.
“This was the first time I ran for Federal Parliament and I don’t think one can ever be confident (about winning).
“You don’t ever know the result until the votes are counted.”
Mr Dreyfus said national election issues such as the former Howard Government’s WorkChoices policy had swung voters more in Labor’s favour.
“There was clearly tremendous support for Labor as I went right around the electorate, and I did hear the same things I’ve been hearing all year about why WorkChoices was the reason people were changing their vote.
“People in this electorate were ready for change.”
Mr Dreyfus said he would now focus on serving Isaacs’ needs.
“The issues I am looking forward to working on are those I’ve been hearing all year.
“These are: reforming industrial relation laws, working on the education system, addressing climate change, aged care and health.”
His Liberal Party opponent Ross Fox said that while he was disappointed with the result, he was also upset that promises of CCTV in Noble Park and an Australian Technical College for the Dandenong region would not be met.
“I thought that the track record of the Liberal Party and (former) Coalition government was a very strong one,” he said.
“I’d hoped, I guess personally, for a much closer result.
“But I am most disappointed I won’t get the opportunity to deliver local plans for the local community. “And it remains to be seen whether the new member will deliver any benefits locally.”