By CASEY NEILL
EMANUELE Cicchiello is bringing out the Liberal big guns in his attempt to win the Labor-held Bruce electorate at the 7 September Federal Election.
Federal Opposition communications and broadband spokesman Malcolm Turnbull and state Police and Emergency Services Minister Kim Wells both visited the electorate over the past week.
Mr Turnbull opened Mr Cicchiello’s campaign office in central Dandenong on Tuesday (13 August).
“My office is operating six days a week and my door is always open for people who want to drop by, say hello and talk about local issues and ideas for improving our community,” Mr Cicchiello said.
“While Alan Griffin and the Labor Party think governing is all about them, I am listening to the people of Bruce and what matters to them.”
He plans to throw open the Princes Highway office’s doors to community groups for meetings, events and activities.
Mr Turnbull spoke with traders at Dandenong Market alongside Mr Cicchiello and Victorian Senator Helen Kroger during his visit.
He said Mr Cicchiello had “a lot of support, a lot of enthusiasm for him” and was very well-qualified to understand the electorate’s residents.
“People see in him as someone who has real roots in the community,” he said.
But he acknowledged the Coalition would need “a big swing to win it, obviously”.
Mr Cicchiello and Mr Wells discussed measures to tackle crime and met protective services officers (PSOs) at Dandenong railway station on 8 August.
“I am fighting hard to make sure the Bruce electorate receives funding to install CCTV cameras in known crime hotspots, including at a number of sites in and around Dandenong,” Mr Cicchiello said.
Mr Cicchiello’s office at Shop 7, 26 Princes Highway, Dandenong, is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 2pm Saturday, and can be contacted on 9706 7557.
