After a lengthy preselection wait, Amy Johnson is now ready to advocate for improving infrastructure and reducing crime as the Liberal candidate for Wendouree.
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A member of City of Ballarat’s council since 2012, she was the youngest ever female councillor elected in the municipality. She will continue in her council role until the end of October, when she will take a leave of absence to campaign.
She was unopposed for Liberal preselection in the seat.
With her father once a Yarriambiack Shire Councillor, and her mother deeply involved in Rotary, community service is a family staple.
Cr Johnson said her time as a councillor had given her a strong understanding of how different levels of government work together, and the importance of lobbying.
She described the experience “like doing several uni degrees”, where she was able to meet a variety of people and interact with organisations with broad objectives.
“I understand the issues and challenges Ballarat is facing, in regard to the infrastructure we need to build as the city grows,” Cr Johnson said. “There’s some really important road infrastructure that needs to be upgraded.”
“As the footprint of the city continues to grow, keeping up services – whether you’re thinking of council or state government – like health, education and childcare.”
A communications professional by trade, Cr Johnson said planning for the city’s future growth and reducing crime were the main campaign issues for her.
“Obviously I think crime is a serious issue, not just in Ballarat but across Victoria,” she said.“A lot of people are concerned about making sure their views on local issues are actually taken into account.”
Having gone to high school in Ballarat and returned again after university, Cr Johnson said it was a place with a strong identity.
“It’s particularly a fantastic place to raise a family,” she said. “What it offers as a city liveability-wise is superior to Melbourne, where real estate is quite expensive, and there’s quite a strong sense of community here as well.”
She will run against Labor’s candidate for the seat Juliana Addison. Ms Addison replaces retiring MP Sharon Knight, who retained in the seat with a 5.79 per cent margin at the 2014 election.
The Liberal Party is still yet to name a candidate for Buninyong, while incumbent Louise Staley will campaign for her seat of Ripon.
