Theo Zographos
Steve DIMOPOULOS (Oakleigh – Minister for Environment, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (10:23): It is no secret that the former endorsed Liberal candidate for Chisholm Theo Zographos and I do not have the same politics. In fact he ran for the same seat as I did, Oakleigh, in 2014, and he also ran for that seat in 2010. But despite those differences, we worked together quite cooperatively at Monash council, because at the local level Labor and Liberal do not really come into it as much when you are talking about parking or rubbish collection or local roads. It is also no secret that Carina Garland, the federal member for Chisholm, is a friend of mine and an outstanding federal member of Parliament. I felt obliged to comment today when I found out a few weeks ago that the Liberal Party had disendorsed or removed – put aside – a homegrown boy, Theo Zographos, who did the work in the party to get preselected and who has been in the community for years, for someone who is effectively an import, Dr Katie Allen. I have got nothing against Katie Allen – I worked with Katie Allen when she was the member for Higgins as well – but this is not about her, it is about why the Liberal Party just moved aside a preselected candidate, even more so because he is a Greek Australian. The Liberal Party do not have one Greek Australian background MP in Victoria, from my notes. It is appalling behaviour. He deserves better and the Greek community deserves better in Chisholm.