By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
LABOR’S candidate for this Saturday’s Lyndhurst byelection tackled pointed questions head-on at a ‘meet the candidate’ forum in Hampton Park last week.
Martin Pakula, hot favourite to win the safe ALP seat, defended himself against queries about living outside the electorate, being a “Labor Party man” and whether he would close the Lyndhurst toxic waste dump.
Last Wednesday’s forum was organised by Residents Against Toxic Waste in the South East but topics ranged from abortion to sports sponsorship by alcohol brands, and renewable energy.
Most candidates said the toxic waste dump in Taylors Road shouldn’t be near residents. Hampton Park candidate David Linaker raised the crowd’s ire by confessing he wasn’t “greatly concerned” by odours in landfills in Taylors and Hallam roads.
Rather, his main issue was publicising a proposed bridge, replete with solar panels and tidal and wind turbines, across the heads of Port Phillip.
His candidacy isn’t endorsed by the Liberal Party.
Another candidate Bobby Singh, of Hampton Park, revealed himself as a Labor member and an unendorsed local alternative to Mr Pakula — who pointedly raised his eyebrows.
Mr Pakula, who said he lived in “the City of Bayside”, challenged the notion that the best candidate was independent or lived in the electorate.
“The vast majority vote for the Labor, Liberal or the Greens party candidate. They don’t vote for the individual personality but for the philosophy of the party.”
On Lyndhurst’s hazardous waste dump, he said: “I believe that it is preferable that facilities of this nature not be in a residential area. The community, councils and local MPs should be finding an alternative location. Until it’s found, the Taylors Road landfill won’t close — or not until it’s full.”
He pledged to have talks with opposition environment spokeswoman Lisa Neville on formulating a hazardous waste policy — something Victoria does not have.
Greens candidate Nina Springle said she’d aim for a five-year shutdown of Taylors Road, and seek superior technology to manage hazardous waste.
Democratic Labor Party candidate Geraldine Gonsalvez, a RATWISE member, said an alternative in Nowingi — “10 kilometres from the closest house” — was available. “The closest house to Taylors Road is 25 metres away.”
Martin Leahy, of the Sex Party, said Casey Council must stop houses being built near the landfill. The Environment Protection Authority needed to ensure waste was disposed and managed to “world’s best practice”.
Lyndhurst electors can vote from 8am-6pm on Saturday. See vec.vic.gov.au for booth addresses.
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