By Laura Michell
Yan Yean MP Danielle Green could never have imagined last month’s state election would play out the way it did.
The Labor MP went into the election holding the seat of Yan Yean by a margin of 3.7 per cent, having never won on first preference votes.
Now, she holds the growth electorate by a margin of about 17 per cent and won more than 56 per cent of the primary vote.
Yan Yean recorded the largest swing towards Labor in the state – 13 per cent.
Ms Green is one of a number of Labor MPs –including Premier Daniel Andrews and deputy premier James Merlino – who were first elected to Parliament in 2002.
Now in her fifth term, Ms Green said being the member for Yan Yean is a job that “never gets stale”.
“It’s always a new job … there is always a new suburb that needs the basics,” she said.
Looking ahead to the next four years, Ms Green said she had her sights set on bringing more infrastructure to the north, such as a hospital for Whittlesea and upgraded roads.
She is also eagerly awaiting the start of the government’s program to have mental health professionals working in secondary schools.
But first, Ms Green is preparing for the 10th anniversary of the Black Saturday bushfires on February 7.
The devastating fires claimed the lives of 12 people from the Whittlesea area. Ms Green was among the first responders on the day.
“My first priority will be to bed down what support will be in place for the families, first responders and communities who will struggle with that milestone,” she said.
