STAFF WRITERS
FORMER farmer and agribusiness manager, Alison Stephens, known to locals as Sonny, has been endorsed as the Labor party candidate for Gippsland at the coming federal election.
Ms Stephens faces a challenge to claim the seat of Gippsland for Labor for the first time, with Nationals incumbent Darren Chester retaining it at the 2022 election by 20.57 percentage points on the two-party preferred vote.
Hailing from Cowwarr, Ms Stephens has lived and worked entirely in the Gippsland region, with the exception of three years in the Australian Army.
Following her Army service, Ms Stephens studied at Churchill, gaining a Diploma of Welfare Studies. She spent the next 20 years working in the public and private health, welfare and social support sectors across Gippsland, including five years with a general practitioner organisation in East Gippsland, learning first-hand the issues facing both doctors and patients in rural and remote locations.
The past 20 years have been spent in agriculture; firstly as a beef farmer then as a lucerne and a crop grower, and lastly as the manager of an agricultural contracting business, providing services to farmers in the mid-Gippsland and the Macalister Irrigation districts.
Ms Stephens said she knew and had lived the pressures faced by farmers and farming communities, and knew how much hard work and sacrifice was needed to sustain a small business. She also said she understood how crucial small businesses were in local communities, both as employers and participants in the community.
“I am a life member of the Australian Labor Party because I believe in Labor values that put people first,” Ms Stephens said.
Ms Stephens said she was an advocate for people like herself who chose to live, raise their families and work in regional, rural and remote locations in Gippsland.
“I love Gippsland and its people; it would be an honour to represent you in federal Parliament,” she said.
ELSEWHERE, One Nation has announced Kuljeet Kaur Robinson as its candidate for Monash.
Ms Robinson is a psychiatric nurse and mother of three, who describes herself as a “proud Punjabi Australian”.
“I’ve decided to run with One Nation because I’m committed to standing up for the values that matter to everyday Australians and making sure your voice is heard in Parliament,” she said.
“In the Monash electorate, I’m passionate about fighting for better mental health services, affordable housing and support for local businesses.
“I want to ensure that mental health care is accessible and affordable for all, and I will work to ensure that families in Monash can find a home they can afford, without the stress of rising costs.
“Our small businesses need the right support to grow, thrive, and create jobs in our community.”
Prominent Latrobe Valley voice, Greg Hansford is running on the One Nation ticket for Gippsland.
