By Taylah Eastwell
A prominent Ringwood lawyer has put his hand up for the newly-vacated seat of Casey.
Grant Hutchinson, of Hutchinson Legal, is bidding to succeed longstanding MP Tony Smith as the candidate for the outer-eastern seat.
Speaking to Yarra Valley FM recently, Mr Hutcinson expressed his concerns over telecommunications issues in the Dandenongs.
“There are easements over land that allow for steps to be taken to allow power to be put underground, but we need political will,” Mr Hutchinson said.
“There are telecommunications blackspots throughout and we need to address that. The first role of government is to ensure the citizens can enjoy safety, can enjoy living in their homes and people shouldn’t be exposed to unnecessary risk – and not being connected is such a risk,” he said on air.
Mr Hutchinson has raised a number of issues on local radio channels, such as infrastructure, bushfire preparedness, small business and aged care, and it can only be assumed these will form some of his agenda if he were to win the seat.
“With the bushfire season coming up at Christmas, what are we doing to clean up all these trees that have fallen?,” he said on air.
The Croydon Hills man was heard saying that in order to maintain safety in the Dandenongs and fire-prone communities “local council, state and federal government need to work together to achieve better connectivity”.
Hutchinson has served on the board for Donwood Aged Care and established ElderCare Legal at his law firm to assist individuals and families with issues affecting the aged including the transition to a retirement home, elder abuse claims and powers of attorney.
As reported in WA Today, Mr Hutchinson will run against barrister and City of Melbourne councillor Roshena Campbell,business executive Aaron Violi, management consultant Andrew Asten, Hills based environment activist Donalea Patman and prominent oncologist columnist Ranjana Srivastava.
