COULD the woman accusing the Brumby government of spying on her pinch the seat of Seymour from Labor on November 27?
Jan Beer, a Yea farmer vehemently opposed to the $750 million north south pipeline, adds another element to the contest ostensibly between sitting MP Ben Hardman and Liberal family businessman Mike Laker.
- AT A GLANCE
- Seat: Seymour
- Member: Ben Hardman (Labor)
- Swing required to change MP: 6.67 per cent
- Contenders: Mike Laker (Liberal), Jan Beer (independent)
- Location: Rural electorate north of Melbourne including Yea, Kilmore, Marysville, Kinglake
- Seat history: 1992-99 Liberal
- 1999-present: ALP
- Issues: The north south pipeline, Wallan-Kilmore bypass, bushfire reconstruction
- Point of interest: Ms Beer is spokeswoman for Plug the Pipe, the group that opposed the $750 million north south pipeline to pump water from the Goulburn River in the state's northeast to Melbourne
Ten days out from the election she is scheduled for a mediation session with the government at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to discuss her claims of Labor spying.
A lack of government transparency on major projects such as the pipeline, $5.72 billion desalination plant and troublesome ticketing system Myki, was a key factor in Ms Beer deciding to throw her hat in the ring.
Ms Beer has long called on the government to release the business case for the pipeline and wants it closed.
Mr Laker says a coalition government would only use the pipeline in times of critical need, while Mr Hardman argues water flowing to Melbourne through the pipeline comes from savings achieved through the irrigation upgrades as part of the Foodbowl Modernisation Project.
The tragedy of Black Saturday in towns such as Marysville and Kinglake has left the electorate much changed since the last state election.
Mr Hardman said the reconstruction effort was moving along at a good pace, with 103 buildings in Marysville constructed since the fatal blaze.
Strathewen Primary School and Marysville Primary School have reopened and Middle Kinglake Primary School, which is now operating out of portable classrooms, is scheduled to open for term one next year.
Mr Hardman, who would lose his seat of there is a 6.67 per cent swing against him, says Black Saturday victims are recovering at their own pace.
The government rejected the Bushfires Royal Commission's recommendation for a voluntary government buy out of land in high risk but flame zones.
Mr Hardman says the overwhelming feeling during community consultations was a buy out was not a practical option.
Mr Laker says a coalition government would give $450,000 to the Yarra Valley Practitioners Project, which offers free counselling to Black Saturday Survivors.
A long running issue in Seymour has been the Kilmore Wallan bypass.
The government has committed to building a $36.5 million Kilmore Link Road, while the opposition has promised $130 million for a Kilmore-Wallan bypass.
