(This article was orginally written for UniPollWatch in May 2016, with Samuel Seedsman)
The future of education in Dunkley is in jeopardy, according to Labor candidate Peta Murphy.
“If the Turnbull government get re-elected, there’ll be $28 million cut from schools in Dunkley from 2018 to 2019.”
If elected, Murphy is eager to get $24 million outlined in the Gonski Report flowing into Dunkley schools.
Having won pre-selection last year, Murphy is the Labor Party’s candidate in the marginal seat of Dunkley, Victoria.
She moved to Mt Eliza in 2012 with her husband, and has spent much of her life working as a criminal defence lawyer; a history which she believe will help her serve Dunkley.
“I’ve got a much better understanding of how people find themselves in a situation where they are addicted to drugs or committing horrible crimes,” says Murphy.
“It’s about finding out as a community how it is we end up with individuals that fall through the system, and then how we can make the system better than it is.”
Being part of the community is essential to being a good representative of the electorate, according to Murphy.
“Going out and asking people what is important to them gives you a much greater insight into what the community wants than just standing up and saying what you are for.”
Murphy acknowledges Dunkley as a socioeconomically diverse electorate, but believes that the fundamental wants and needs of the people are the same throughout the electorate.
“Everybody wants to be able to send their kids to a good school, wants to know that they can go to a hospital and not worry if they’re able to afford it, and wants to know that they and their kids can find a good job close to home.”
Sitting down with and listening to community groups is one of Murphy’s priorities if she is elected.
“I’ve been meeting with community groups for over a year now; sporting, social and business groups. It’s about follow that up and asking, ‘who is needed around the table to achieve X or Y?’”
In Murphy’s view, a diversity of backgrounds in parliament is best for everyone.
“I think there is real value in people who have been in the political system for a long time, but is is important to have people who have lived what they’re talking about.”
Murphy believes that campaign financing is an are worth looking into.
“It’s a vexed issue. If we ever got to the point of what it is in America, it would be terrible for democracy.”
Murphy says that it is difficult to run a campaign in Australia if you are not independently wealthy or do not have access to wealthy people to support your campaign.
“We don’t get paid a salary by the party to be a candidate, so you do have to find a lot of resources yourself. I don’t have huge resources, so it’s not like there’s going to be posters of me in every window.”