Green”s grammer lesson voters

By Geelong Story Updates
The Australian Greens have unveiled a Geelong Grammar English teacher as the party’s candidate for Corio at this year’s federal election.
Dr Rob Leach, a 44yearold Oxford University graduate, plans to tackle his Labor and Liberal opponents in the leadup to polling day on a mixed platform of local and national issues.
In his opening election salvo, Dr Leach savaged the major parties’ on climate change, saying they had come to the issue “too late and with too little”.
“The Libs remain in denial and the ALP is too scared of powerful interests such as the coal industry,” he said.
“I have young children and I’d like them to learn to swim at Eastern Beach and not up on Yarra Street.”
As for specifically local issues, Dr Leach said water management and conservation topped the list, along with keeping the region free of a nuclear power plant.
Improving Geelong’s safety record and stopping plans to dredge Port Phillip Bay were other priorities.
Dr Leach said he hoped to put up a strong fight at the polls but was under no illusion about the enormity of his challenge.
“It’s a safe Labor seat and most people I’ve spoken to think (Labor candidate) Richard Marles will get in without too much trouble,” Dr Leach said.