By ANEEKA SIMONIS
In the latest in the Gazette’s Q&A interviews with state election candidates, Liberal candidate for Bass Brian Paynter speaks to Ben Cameron and Aneeka Simonis about being a front-runner in what many are tipping as a one-sided contest.
The bookies have you at $1.02 to win the seat. Any danger of complacency being your undoing?
No way in the world. It’s not in my nature. I’m loving every minute and always enjoy what I do or else I wouldn’t be doing it. I have been around long enough to know there are no certainties so there are no complacencies here.
Labor has put up Sanjay Nathan from Taylors Lakes on the other side of Melbourne as its candidate. Do you think they are even trying to win or have they already conceded?
That’s up to Labor. I am not privy to any of their meetings or conversations. I just know what I am doing and that’s the most important thing for me. I have really good support and networks with people in the community.
The polls have the Liberals well behind Labor statewide. Why would a first-term government without any major scandals be in that position?
I don’t know. I have read and heard what they have said but at the same time, I don’t know how widely people are polled or how accurate they are. The only thing I can think of if they are accurate, is that we haven’t got our message out enough but that will be rectified in the next four weeks. I think it’s about getting our messages out which is what we are starting to do, so hopefully the polls will reflect that in the near future.
Your predecessor Ken Smith held the seat for Bass since 2002. How will you set yourself aside from him?
Time will tell. Ken has done a great job, I am a huge advocate for Ken and even now dealing with him more closely over the past few months. He has huge respect in the community. I will take great strength in what Ken has done and if I can look back in 26 years’ time and have the record Ken’s got, I’d be very proud.
If elected on 29 November, what will you be tackling as your first point of business?
Health and education is such a big issue everywhere I go, things like the continued development of Pakenham Secondary. Youth and men’s violence against woman is a key project we need to continue developing. Transport, law and order … just the basic things. I want to get the fundamentals right. We need to create employment. People need to live and work in the same area to build a strong community which is important with the growing population. I am also a big advocate for public education.
You have a reputation for being a decent man. Are you concerned that the ruthless nature of politics might change you?
I don’t think so. I come from a fairly basic background, a great family and supportive friends so they pull me into line. I have a wife and three daughters, aged 21, 19 and 17. They know dad as dad, and I don’t think dad is going to change.
You would have watched with interest while Ken Smith was at the epicentre of the Geoff Shaw/Speaker fiasco – how do you think you would handle that level of pressure?
I am 49. I have been in businesses, I have been employed, I have employed people and brought businesses, built them, sold them … I have a long history in sport and a long list of clients. I have been under personal scrutiny and put people under personal scrutiny. I think I am well equipped to deal with most things.
What roads have stood out to you as needing urgent repair?
As kids, we used to ride out bikes over Koowee Road to Kooweerup and I don’t think that road has gotten any better. That is a road that is in dire need of upgrading and I want to see that from the bypass all the way through to Pakenham.
A few questions on general topics. What’s your stance on legal abortion?
I think the current laws strike the right balance.
Gay marriage?
I have no problem with gay marriage.
Banning the burqa?
It was ridiculous. I wouldn’t have thought there was any change needed to ban the niqab. It’s not even a burqa. This whole situation, I think, was blown out of proportion. To exclude people or put them in certain areas is just not on.
