By Cameron Weston
IT would be appropriate if Michael Faltermaier turned up one day during his impending state election campaign clutching a sling shot.
The Greens candidate is challenging for the seat of Williamstown, a Labor stronghold and the seat held by Premier Steve Bracks.
It will be a David and Goliath struggle.
But Mr Faltermaier isn’t looking to slay the giant and knock the Premier off his perch on November 25 – he would be quite happy to win a few hearts and change a few minds.
“Clearly, it’s a very difficult to think that you might win the seat.
“I don’t have any real expectations but I have some goals, like creating a greater awareness of Greens policies.
“I also want to break down some of the misconceptions people have about the Greens.
“People think that it is a party focused on dealing with the environment but it is much more about social justice.”
Mr Faltermaier said he expected the Greens to pick up extra votes from “disillusioned Labor voters” voting on social justice issues, where they feel the left has let them down.
But when asked what he would consider a win, as the results begin to emerge on election night, Mr Faltermaier preferred to talk sport, not statistics.
“I don’t see it in numbers.
“I’ll give an analogy. I’m a big soccer fan and if we look at what the Socceroos did in the World Cup; they won one game and they played four.
“They won one out of four but the impact they have had on sport in Australia was enormous.
“If we get a swing to us, that would be fantastic.
“Obviously, I’d be disappointed if we didn’t maintain our vote. If we can maintain or improve our vote and raise awareness in the community, that’s a win.”
The Greens polled 10.24 per cent of the primary votes in the 2002 poll, a few strides back from the Liberal candidate who took almost 19 per cent, but streets away from Mr Bracks, who snared almost 65 per cent of the primary vote.
Mr Faltermaier, a personal injury barrister, has lived in Williamstown for five years.
He said he would be including local issues with the broader Greens platform as he hit the campaign trail, particularly improving local public transport, opposing channel deepening, and returning the Newport Punt to service.
