By Parker McKenzie
Mary Doyle is the Labor candidate for the federal seat of Aston, which covers Bayswater, Boronia, the Basin and Ferntree Gully.
Ms Doyle told the Star Mail if elected she would work hard to represent the community and act as their advocate in federal Parliament.
“Australia ranks last in the OECD for manufacturing, which is 50 per cent less than it was in 1990,” Ms Doyle said.
“The impact has been felt in Aston, especially with a number of industrial parks in Bayswater and Boronia.”
Aston has been represented by the Liberal party’s Alan Tudge since 2010. The Labor party held the seat in the first six years of its inception from 1984 until 1990, however, it has been a safely Liberal-held seat since.
Ms Doyle highlighted policies from the Labor party to increase childcare subsidies to 90 per cent and focus on sustainable renewables as important issues for the 2022 election.
“I know firsthand what it’s like to juggle a career and a young family. I’ve got two kids of my own, and they’re teenagers, and my oldest is 20 now,” she said.
“But when they were growing up, I know, I do remember the cost of childcare was quite high, which is still the case.”
Mr Tudge, who held the seat by a 20.26 per cent margin in the 2019 election, is currently on leave from Parliament following allegations of abusive behaviour towards his former press secretary Rachelle Miller, with who he was having an affair at the time. Mr. Tudge denies the allegations and he has stood aside from his ministerial duties while the allegation is being investigated.
Ms Doyle said increased funding for Medicare and transparent funding for aged care would be a priority for the Labor party at the next election.
“Over the past eight years funding has continued to be reduced to medical services and that’s a real worry from what I gather from talking to people in the community,” she said.
“Everyone should have access to medical treatment when they need it and this is something that I would fight for. I know myself, I had cancer many years ago, that it’s really important for people who suffer from ailments such as that to have decent health care.”
Having previously worked as a singer and an actor — including an appearance on Neighbours — Ms Doyle has also participated in a number of community campaigns.
She said if elected by the people of Aston she would “execute the role as their representative faithfully.”
“I would listen to everyone, take on board any concerns and be happy to take a phone call. My inbox would be open to them,” she said.
“I would definitely answer their questions and I am happy to talk with them on any issue that they would like to bring to me.”
