Green bridge protest

Kim Waters
THE GREENS will protest a State Government open day for Barwon Heads Bridge this weekend despite confirming the party will preference Labor’s South Barwon MP at next week’s election.
Greens South Barwon candidate Simon Northeast said he would follow the party line even though Labor had handled the Barwon Heads Bidge project “very badly”.
“My party has done a deal with the Labor party to preference us second in the Upper House for Western Victoria if we give them preferences for South Barwon in this election,” he said.
“I’m a team player and I’m doing what is best for my party but Greens’ voters aren’t sheep. Our research shows Greens’ voters don’t follow our preference cards.
“They will vote Greens’ first and then will decide on whoever they wish to put second.”
Mr Northeast, a Surf Coast Shire councillor, said Greens members would join a community protest against the bridge project.
“I understand there are some people in the community involved in the protest and others who are just going to ignore the whole thing,” he said.
“I think the whole project has been handled really badly and the community has not been properly consulted or listened to. I don’t see why this open day had to be done prior to the election.”
Barwon Heads Traders and Tourism Association’s Bernard Napthine said a majority of the community would boycott the official open day and naming ceremony on Saturday.
“Most people are content to just stay away,” he said.
“I think we’ll be speaking with our votes at the ballot box.”