With little more than four weeks to a Federal election, voters are still largely in the dark about the bigger picture of their Liberal candidate Timothy Vo.
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The federal Liberal candidate for the seat of Ballarat has declined to take part in The Courier's series of interviews with all Federal seat of Ballarat election candidates, with his campaign media manager Matt Kelly citing a 'breach of trust' over which journalist would interview him.
Timothy Vo initially agreed to meet with Courier to conduct an interview around policy, his background and what he saw as the main issues affecting Ballarat in the May election.
Due to conflicting duties of the initial reporter who was arranged to do the interview, another reporter was found to conduct the same interview.
Apologies were extended to Mr Vo for this unanticipated change and new arrangements made with this reporter. Mr Vo agreed to the interview.
However the interview was cancelled on Friday morning by media manager Matt Kelly in a series of phone calls, arguing the change of reporter was something he 'had never heard of happening before' and a 'breach of trust'.
Apart from several short media appearances and a printed media release on his confirmation as the Liberal candidate for the federal seat of Ballarat, readers of The Courier and residents are still wondering who their candidate is and what he stands for.
Ballarat resident and former Liberal state assembly member Paul Jenkins told The Courier he was 'floored' by the idea a media manager in Melbourne would stop a local candidate speaking to local media.
"Regional and rural media is completely different to the metros," Mr Jenkins said.
"I'm stunned a whippersnapper from HQ would do that. We need each other."
The Courier's offer to interview Mr Vo remains open.
