Council
13 February, 2025
Labor candidate vows answers over promises
LABOR has announced Cooriemungle’s Fiona Mackenzie will stand as the party’s candidate for Wannon in the upcoming Federal Election.
Ms Mackenzie recently launched her campaign in a low-key affair, which she said would prioritise providing voters with answers through practical policy and programs rather than vague promises.
She said she had been inspired to run through her desire to see the next generation well-positioned.
“Labor has a platform, so you know what you’re agreeing to,” Ms Mackenzie said.
“Sometimes politics is like asking people to join a club without knowing the rules until after they start playing.
“You have to know and make a stance – to show people what you stand for.
“Nothing is ever perfect, but I think politics is about always trying to move to something better – a transition you can keep working on.
“I think government is formed on parliamentary process, and that’s based on putting forward proposals and policy which can become legislation.”
Ms Mackenzie said Labor was well positioned through its policy to alleviate cost of living pressures, invest in Medicare and bulk-billing, building new homes, fixing the National Broadband Network and tackling climate change.
“We need to reduce fossil fuel usage – and certainly not through nuclear, we had that argument about 50 years ago,” she said.
“I want to see us keeping on renewables because we’re over half way there – we’re not going to go backwards now, so we need to keep moving because it’s the right way to go.
“I want to make sure that happens and continues to happen.
“Labor has established strong programs such as strengthening Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and the National Disability Insurance Scheme, which we see as the backbone to our country.
“Labor has restored these programs again and we keep working to improve it – that, to me, establishes the basis for a really good society.”
Ms Mackenzie said she was no stranger to the region’s needs, with a long history in the south west which has seen her spending time in both Warrnambool and, for nearly a decade, Cooriemungle – just outside Timboon.
She has previously worked as a steward in the Naval and Military Club, has been a long-time teacher throughout regional and metropolitan Victoria, including Warrnambool and Timboon, and has even worked in the metal industry selling nickel alloys to the petro-chemical industry throughout Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
During that time she worked full-time as a teacher and a single parent and became a carer for her parents’ after her mother developed cancer.
Ms Mackenzie said she had seen the impact supportive government programs could have on families as a result, even noting her teaching career had received a boost from Whitlam-era support for those pursuing a career change.
“I want to see that continue – we’ve now got fee-free courses and apprenticeships are booming,” she said.
“We’re targeting what is needed while working on the cost of living, which I’m very aware of as a retired pensioner.
“I was pleased to see Labor’s investment to challenge supermarket price gouging, the real work on housing, and the creation of real jobs.
“The investment in renewables is leading to jobs.”
Ms Mackenzie said she was confident Labor had achieved enough during Anthony Albanese’s first term, the first federal stint for Labor in almost a decade after Tony Abbott took office in 2013, to earn re-election.
“We’re a rich country with a GDP of $1.74 trillion dollars, we’re spending 34 per cent on services – and we can afford this,” she said.
“The idea we’re not doing well isn’t backed by evidence.
“I see a thinking government in charge which is working through the issues and succeeding.
“Economically, Australia has been better under Labor than it was under the Coalition.”
As for the electorate of Wannon, tipped to be a tight race between Liberal incumbent Dan Tehan and independent candidate Alex Dyson, Ms Mackenzie said she would never view any election as unwinnable.
“The last time I stood was against the leader of the opposition at the state level in Bulleen,” she said.
“My belief is you need to challenge – it’s too easy to be critical, but it’s much harder to form policy.
“And members in Labor can contribute to policy, it’s not just following a top person or following cabinet or caucus.
“Everyone in Labor can have that influence, work with others and elicit change while representing their constituents.”
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