By Parker McKenzie
With major party nominations complete and campaigns beginning in earnest, Labor candidate Bill Brindle is shaping up for a 2022 federal election with a different outlook from his first attempt at becoming the member for Casey.
After challenging the popular and respected incumbent MP Tony Smith in 2019, Mr Brindle will face Liberal candidate and local businessman Aaron Violi in what is likely to be a closer contest.
The small business owner – an engineer by trade – has flagged integrity as a key issue for the upcoming election.
“Politicians need to be accountable and I don’t think that’s negotiable,” Mr Brindle said.
“I’m really comfortable with the idea of a solid Independent Commission Against Corruption and frankly I’m fairly suspicious of anyone who isn’t.”
The federal Labor party has vowed to establish a National Anti-Corruption Commission heading into the next federal election with a model similar to state-based watchdogs in Victoria and New South Wales.
He also listed local infrastructure, mental health support, bushfire preparation, affordable housing, support for veterans and aged-care reform as important issues for the Casey community.
Mr Brindle said representing the Casey community in federal parliament would be a challenge, but one that he’s eager to take on.
“From a personal perspective I get tired of people promising things that aren’t deliverable,” he said.
“I’ve had a long experience in business and if that taught me anything it was to talk straight, deliver what is promised and get the job done on time and budget.”
While Mr Brindle lost to “the best Speaker of the House in my living memory” in the 2019 federal election by 9.28 per cent of the vote, he said he has the feeling the people of Casey are ready for different representation.
“I care about this country, I care about the rule of law and I care about democracy,” he said.
“I think the values that built this country are still there, we just need to value them.”
Mr Smith will retire from politics at the next federal election after 20 years as MP for Casey and he recently retired as Speaker of the House after six years in the position.
Mr Brindle said if elected to succeed Mr Smith in parliament he will go to Canberra “to get the job done.”
“I’ll go there to hunt and hopefully bring some spoils back to Casey,” he said.
“The focus is on the community.”
The 2022 federal election will be held on or before 21 May.
