With the next State election now a year away (polling day is fixed for the final Saturday of November every four years), the process of Labor candidate preselection is happening in earnest and secrecy.
This weekend sees the final local voting for the local seat of Prahran, which includes a big slab of St Kilda including the St Kilda Town Hall and Primary School.
With power comes the urge to control and the ALP machine strictly controls public discussion about preselection processes. TWISK can reveal that three women candidates, all with service as local councillors, are vying for the chance to unseat the Liberals’ recently elected Rachel Westaway.
Two of the women are current councillors, namely Port Phillip’s Libby Buckingham and Stonnington’s Meghan Hopper (she was previously on the Moreland Council, serving as Mayor 2014/2015). The third candidate is Rachel Powning, who was Mayor of Port Phillip in 2011/2012.
In true Labor style, the preselection battle is being waged with brutal gusto and factional intrigue. Apparently, all three are in the Right of the ALP, so the manoeuvres have become factional within the faction.
TWISK understands that the outcome is likely to be announced this week.
Election to State parliament requires a sitting councillor to resign and a new election to be conducted. There are no restrictions on councillors running, but they often will ‘step aside’ during the election period.* corrected 30 Nov.
Pictured above (left to right): Meghan Hopper, Rachel Powning and Libby Buckingham.
Liberals back school hall bid
The Liberals have pledged that an elected Victorian Liberal and Nationals government will provide up to $12 million to build a multi-purpose indoor hall and performing arts space at St Kilda Primary School.
The school is located in the state seat of Prahran represented by newly elected Liberal MLA Rachel Westaway.
The announcement was made to coincide with the schools 150th anniversary celebrations.
The parents behind the Sport and Community Hall campaign are now looking to the ALP to match the pledge.
