Reece Clark

Born and raised in Werribee, I have always believed that where you come from shapes who you become. I attended kindergarten in Werribee before going on to Heathdale Christian College, where I completed my education from Prep through to Year 12.

Sport was a big part of my childhood, particularly swimming. After finishing school, I entered the workforce and began my career as a security guard. It was a role that taught me the importance of responsibility, discipline and working to serve others.

I went on to become a Services Manager within centre management at Pacific Werribee Shopping Centre, before continuing to progress through the facilities management industry. My career eventually took me to a national facilities management role with a publicly listed company.

I was given the opportunity to work in New Zealand for a year to establish a new department from the ground up. This experience challenged me professionally and gave me invaluable experience in leadership, management and how to best deliver results.

During this period, I bought my first home in Wyndham Vale. Like many people who have made Wyndham their home, I chose this community because I saw its potential.

I currently work as a Project Manager in industrial warehousing. I have built my career from the ground up, and I understand the value of hard work, accountability and getting things done.

Politically, I have always voted Liberal. I believe in individual responsibility, being tough on crime, reducing unnecessary government interference in our lives and cutting red tape that holds individuals and businesses back. I decided to put my hand up as a candidate because I felt that too little was changing in Werribee.

Our population has grown rapidly, but our roads and public transport have struggled to keep pace. The cost of living has made life harder. And too many people are feeling unsafe in their own community. I don’t believe any government should simply accept this. I want to make a difference. I want to fight for the community I call home, make sure Werribee gets its fair share, and help build a safer, stronger and more prosperous future for Wyndham.

I’m not a career politician. I’m someone who has worked, built a career, bought a home and experienced many of the same challenges facing families and workers across our Community.

Fixing Victoria will not be easy, but a Jess Wilson Liberal Government will be honest with you, and we will get it done. We are ready to make the disciplined decisions.

A Liberal Government will deliver our Plan by working to reduce debt and end wasteful spending. I know what it means to start from the bottom and work your way up. And I believe Werribee deserves a representative who will do exactly that. Work hard, stand up for our community and deliver the fresh start that the state deserves.

Question 1: Are you aligned with any political parties (for independents) and to where are your preferences going?

As per the normal process, preferences won’t be determined until all candidates are announced closer to the election date.

Question 2: What is your position on data centres in the western suburbs? Do you think there should be a moratorium? Should they be independently powered by wind, solar, coal, or nuclear?

Under our plan, data centres will not be built in residential areas, next to residential areas, or in the green wedge. Instead, they will be built in designated Data Centre Precincts that are appropriately distanced from where people live.

Question 3: How will you improve public transport options in the west?

Werribee has been neglected, overlooked and ignored by the Labor Party for far too long — particularly when it comes to public transport. Our community deserves better.

While the east receives new-model trains, Werribee is still being served by the old Connex-era trains.

Our growing community should not have to settle for second best. I have pledged, and will continue to pledge, that Werribee will no longer be forgotten when it comes to receiving our fair share.

I will fight every day for a bus network that is reliable, frequent and viable, as well as more trains, more often. That is why I was proud to stand alongside Jess Wilson to announce our policy for new hybrid suburban trains on the Wyndham Vale Line, for our growing community.

Werribee has waited long enough. It is time our community got its fair share.

Question 4: What will you do to reduce air pollution in the western suburbs?

Werribee experienced a higher number of blackouts last year than ever before. Affordable and reliable energy is fundamental to Victoria’s future.

From businesses to households, Victorians are demanding an energy system that works. As our energy system continues towards renewable sources, we must ensure we maintain reliability for both households and businesses.

We will establish new Urban Solar Parks to encourage solar and battery installations on commercial and industrial rooftops in urban areas, to generate renewable power closer to where it is needed.

Question 5: How do you propose to deal with homelessness and housing affordability in the West?

Housing supply and affordability remain major challenges in Victoria. For too long, not enough has been done to increase housing availability and reduce barriers to development.

Our Plan will fast-track home building in existing, identified growth areas, restore local planning control and scrap Labor’s high-rise activity centres in the suburbs, expand the Capital City Zone into targeted parts of the inner city surrounding the CBD, stop cultural heritage delays, support regional councils to enable new regional housing developments, and abolish stamp duty for first home buyers on properties up to $1 million, reducing upfront costs and improving access to home ownership.

Question 6: What is your policy on abortion?

There will be no change to abortion laws under a Jess Wilson Liberal Government.

Question 7: What should be done to combat crime?

Year on year, crime continues to rise across the Wyndham LGA.

Victorians are facing a crime every 50 seconds, a retail theft every 12 minutes, and nine carjackings every week. Most concerning of all, we have seen offenders released on bail time and time again – including one individual who was granted bail for the 50th time.

Wyndham residents deserve to feel safe in their homes, on their streets and in their local shopping centres. Our plan will deliver stronger consequences for repeat and serious offenders, while giving police the powers and resources they need to keep our community safe.

We will introduce a one-strike rule for an expanded list of 25 offences covered under our revised Adult Time for Adult Crime policy, including burglary, robbery, serious assault and attempted murder.

We will also strengthen police pursuit laws, including creating a new offence of initiating a police pursuit and strengthening legal protections for police officers involved in pursuits.

Victoria Police also needs the resources to properly police our community. There are currently 1,500 vacancies across Victoria Police. Our plan will put more police on the frontline by recruiting an additional 3,000 police officers across Victoria.

Wyndham deserves a government that takes crime seriously, backs our police and puts community safety first.

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