The state Liberal Party candidate for the western suburban electorate of Werribee, Steve Murphy, says he has a big task ahead to pry the Labor Party stronghold away from the government.
The seat is up for grabs on Feb. 8 following the retirement of Labor Treasurer Tim Pallas, who, at the 2022 election, secured a primary vote of 17,512 votes (45.36 percent) from the centre-right Liberal’s Mia Shaw, who got 9,779 votes.
However, Murphy sees an opportunity to capitalise on community frustration with ongoing crime issues in the outer Melbourne area.
Data from the Crime Statistics Agency showed a 9.9 percent increase in offences in the City of Wyndham council area between July 2023 and June 2024.
This amounted to a total of 20,144 offences, up from 18,323 in the previous year.
The suburb of Werribee had the most offences with 5,463.
Murphy has a strong knowledge of the region—he has lived, worked, and raised his family in Werribee for 30 years.
‘People Are Tired of Crime’ in Werribee
If elected, Murphy’s top priority will be reducing crime, with gang violence a major issue.It was only in December when Tomas Petzler, 22, stepped off a train at Werribee station and accidentally bumped into a teenage boy in a crowd.
At least 10 teenage boys then lunged at him, knocking him to the ground, before stabbing him.
Petzler almost became paralysed if the stab wounds were any closer to his spine.
Murphy said many residents in Werribee wanted tougher action and bail laws.
“[Crime] is certainly a genuine issue for the electorate. They are [tired of it],” he told The Epoch Times.
On Aug. 1 last year, the Labor government voted against strengthening bail laws in Victoria.
Current Liberal leader Brad Battin criticised this move, after concerning data revealed that 100 kids between 10 and 17 years were involved in at least 30 crimes last year.
Murphy agrees the current bail laws are not strong enough to deter young criminals from re-offending.
Big Task Ahead to Win Voters’ Hearts
It will not be an easy task for Murphy to win the seat of Werribee.“We need an 11 percent swing. But I believe the people of Werribee can deliver it,” said Murphy, who also believes the state Labor government has neglected vital infrastructure in his electorate over the past decade.
“I believe we need change, and the people of Werribee can create that change.”
Werribee fits the description of electorates the Liberal Party is targeting across Australia.
Strategists are betting key Labor seats in the suburban rings outside major cities could be willing to switch parties as they are hit hard by inflation and crime.
Further, the Labor Party is also facing pressure to present policies that can “sandbag” inner-city city voters against the push by the left-wing Greens.
Competition for Werribee Will Be Fierce
Murphy’s main opponent will be Labor’s John Lister.Lister, 31, is also well known in the seat of Werribee, where he grew up.
He teaches Year 10 at Wyndham Central College, is a volunteer firefighter and secretary of the Werribee CFA Brigade.
Lister disagrees with the notion that his region has been neglected by Labor during the past 10 years it has held power, saying he has been a beneficiary of many public services that the party has invested in.
The Greens’ candidate is Rifai A. Raheem, who is putting cost-of-living, housing affordability, and climate at the top of his agenda.
Raheem has been president of the Werribee Islamic Centre and an active member of the union movement.
He is calling for a cap and freeze on rent increases, no more coal and gas, and an increase funding to improve capacity at Werribee Mercy Hospital.
“Our community is diverse and vibrant, and we deserve a strong voice outside the two major parties who will stand up for the issues that matter most to us like the cost of living, improving transport and educational infrastructure and fostering an inclusive and sustainable environment,” he said.
