In the lead-up to the February 19 byelection for the seat of Broadmeadows, the Weekly asked the nine candidates who have nominated to have their say on three key questions.
1.Why do you feel qualified to represent Broadmeadows? 2. List the three main issues facing the electorate. 3. What would be your priorities if elected?

Peter Byrne (Socialist Equality Party)
Architect; lives in Ashburton

1) Our party advances the only genuine alternative for the working class - a socialist and internationalist program addressing the failure of world capitalism and the big business agenda of Labor, Liberal and Greens.

2) Social inequality and poverty; the crisis of infrastructure and environment; militarism and war.

3) Fight for the working-class against our governments and the financial and corporate oligarchy they serve.

Merinda Davis (Australian Sex Party)
Receptionist; lives in Travancore

1) I am a hard-working civil liberties and human rights advocate who will stand up for Broadmeadows people.

2) Freedom of, and from, religion. We want 24-hour public transport on weekends, an upgrade of signalling equipment and separation of regional and metro train services. Focus on women's health, including support for victims of domestic violence.

3) Strengthen personal freedoms and remove unnecessary government intervention in people's private lives, particularly with respect to police powers.

Frank McGuire (Australian Labor Party)
businessman, social innovator, journalist; lives in Brighton but says his family's home in Broadmeadows will be his base.

1) Broadmeadows is my heartland. I grew up here, I've lived here for a quarter of a century and 12 years ago I answered the call from the Hume Council to help. In Broadmeadows, I pioneered the Global Learning Village (GLV) model.

2) Unemployment here is 15per cent which highlights the need for an innovative response, particularly to loss of manufacturing jobs overseas, life-long education, and responses to crime and domestic violence.

3) Bring together the key institutions and networks established through the GLV and council and business partnerships to build on the collaborative and co-ordinated response to critical issues.

Graham Dawson (Greens)
Hume Council librarian; lives in Hadfield

1) I have worked in Broadmeadows for eight years and live here.

2) Transport and health services for a growing population; continue the push for greater educational achievements and opportunities, good, transparent planning.

3) I would push for increased bus service frequency and better integration with train services.

Gerrit Hendrik Schorel-Hlavka (Independent)
retired author, publisher, attorney, professional advocate, consultant; lives in Viewbank

1) Bring back our constitutional rights, and free education (including school books).

2) Smart meter, health and transport issues.

3) Decentralise — encourage people suited to country living to move to country areas.

Celal Sahin (Independent)
banker, law student; lives in Greenvale

1) Broadmeadows needs to be represented by someone who is from the community and understands the needs of the area.

2) The 15per cent unemployment rate, high crime rates and being taken for granted by Labor as a “safe seat”

3) Give voice back to Hume people, who have been taken for granted for years.

Dr Mark Hobart (Democratic Labor Party)
general practitioner; lives in West Essendon

1) My parents, both GPs, established the North Sunshine Medical Centre in 1956. After graduating as a doctor in 1981, I joined my mother in the practice. I still serve the needs of the local communities.

2) Improve facilities for mental health and introduce compulsory drug rehabilitation. Work for employment and housing affordability.

3) Have compulsory drug rehabilitation for addicts of illegal drugs introduced for the protection of the community and improvement of the lives of these addicts.

Graeme David Marr (Independent)
security consultant; lives in Meadow Heights

1) Residents need someone to represent them with honesty and accountability; l know l can do this for them.

2) Somerton Road — traffic management needs implementing to save lives. Revamp public transport.

3) Implement immediately traffic safety management plan on Somerton Road. Works have been discussed but no more lives should be lost because of inaction. l lobbied hard and got the speed reduced, but it’s not enough to guarantee the safety of users.

Independent candidate Joseph Kaliniy declined to answer the Weekly’s questions.

Source: Hume Weekly