New Scullin Labor MP Andrew Giles is acutely aware he has big shoes to fill in replacing Harry Jenkins.
Mr Jenkins, a former speaker in the House of Representatives, has retired after holding the seat for Labor for 27 years.
“I’ll be the first member for Scullin in 44 years that doesn’t
have the name Harry Jenkins (Harry Jenkins snr represented the seat
from 1969-1986), Mr Giles told the Weekly last week.
“I’m very humbled to be elected and I’m looking forward to repaying the faith.”
Mr Giles, a lawyer, easily won the seat with 64.80 per cent of the
vote on a two-party preferred basis, defeating his nearest rival,
Liberal candidate Jag Chugha, despite a swing of 5.9 per cent against
Labor.
The electorate includes Epping, Lalor, Mill Park, Plenty, South Morang and Thomastown.
“There were two factors [for the swing], the 2010 election was the
best ever [result for Labor] in Victoria … The other was having a new
member in the seat.”
The 40-year-old said despite his party not being in power, he would continue to campaign for key issues.
“I think the general responsibility is to be a strong and articulate voice and hold them [the Coalition government] to account.
“I want to make sure there’s no impact on jobs, where there has been significant investment from the Labor party.
“I will stand up for education and fight for trade training centres.”
Mr Giles said transport was another key issue for the residents of Scullin.
“I’ll push the government to change its view on not funding the
Metro rail projects. [Prime Minister-elect] Tony Abbott has refused to
do this, which is against what the residents of Scullin want.
“Instead of the east-west link there needs to be more roads
developed in Epping around the Melbourne market relocation site. There
also need to be works on Edgars Road, High Street and the [Hume] Freeway
exit.”
He said the Labor party needed to regain the trust of voters and take the task of rebuilding the party seriously.
“The voters want the Labor party to work on their framework and
policy. We have to listen to the community and make proper
considerations now and into the future.”
