BY VANESSA VALENZUELA, ALESHA CAPONE AND CHARLENE GATT
BRIMBANK voters will head to the polls this year in what will mark the longest election campaign in Australia’s history.
Last week Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the 2013 federal election will be held on 14 September.
Voters in the seat of Gorton – which includes Cairnlea, Albanvale, Delahey, Kings Park and Deer Park – will decide whether Brendan O’Connor will be re-elected.
Mr O’Connor was elected to the newly-created electoral division of Gorton in 2004 and was re-elected at both the 2007 and 2010 elections.
He is also the Minister for Small Business and Minister for Housing and Homelessness in the Gillard government.
“Local residents tell me that education, training and jobs are key concerns. That’s why I work as hard as I can to protect and promote education investment in Melbourne’s West,” he said.
Mr O’Connor said he understands the need for a train station to be built in Caroline Springs and would like the State Liberal Government to fund the project.
Gellibrand MP Nicola Roxon resigned only days after Prime Minister Gillard announced the date of this year’s election.
In a press conference with the Prime Minister and fellow outgoing MP Chris Evans on Saturday, a teary Ms Roxon said her resignation would allow her to spend more time with her family.
After a landslide win in the 2012 election, Ms Roxon retained her seat in the Gellibrand electorate, which includes Ardeer, Albion, Sunshine and Sunshine West, making it the second-safest Labor seat in Australia.
Meanwhile, voters in the Calwell electorate – which covers Keilor North, Taylors Lakes, Keilor and Sydenham – will decide whether Labour MP Maria Vamvakinou will be re-elected this year.
Ms Vamvakinou grew up in Melbourne’s northern suburbs and was elected into the federal seat of Calwell in 2001.
She is a trained secondary school teacher and is the chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Migration.
Ms Vamvakinou said she will continue to advocate for the retention and creation of local jobs, help people find employment through education and training and also find ways to create a “harmonious community” through necessary settlement services.
Maribyrnong MP Bill Shorten, whose electorate takes in St Albans, Kealba and Sunshine North, welcomed the PM’s announcement last week.
“It will be a welcome relief for householders and businesses who will now have more than adequate time to carefully weigh up candidates and their policies,” he said.
Mr Shorten was re-elected as the member for Maribyrnong at the 2010 federal election and is also the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
