Jeni’s as independent as they get for this election

FOR Jeni Jobe, her decision to run in this year’s state election is all about representing the electorate, without political party influence. 

Jeni has been involved in numerous community groups over the years and stood for local government in 2020. 

Ms Jobe is running as an independent for the Bass Electorate, which she believes will allow her to advocate for community values.

“Normally, no one knows who I am, I always get work done in the background,” she said. 

“In an election campaign, you have to broadcast your good deeds.”

“The biggest thing that led me to becoming politically involved is Totally Renewable Phillip Island.

“Back in 2018, there was a meeting on Phillip Island with more than 200 people, they wanted to decarbonise the Island and become carbon neutral by 2030.

“Being in the room and participating in meetings with the member groups and industry professionals was really eye opening and inspirational.”

Ms Jobe was inspired to run as an Independent due to the influence of Cathy McGowan, who won the seat of Indi in North East Victoria during 2013 becoming the first independent member, as well as her successor Dr Helen Haines. 

“They managed to get a lot of infrastructure investment in their electorate,” she said.

“It should always be about making decisions based on need in your community, rather than what benefits a career path through a political party.”

If elected, Jeni plans to have a strong focus on improving planning guidelines, social infrastructure, health impacts of sand mining, protecting the Westernport Bay and ensuring the electorate has community cultural spaces available for groups and organisations. 

“I do wonder how housing was allowed to go from being a basic human right to a money making business,” she said.

“If we all start having multiple houses with a lot of these homes standing empty, there’s a proportion of the community that has less and less options and they’re put out on the street, and as a result of the effects of homelessness they are more dependent on health services.

“We should make sure planning is brought up to date with community batteries and innovative housing solutions, we can build better communities.

“A lot of residents have to travel to Melbourne to get proper mental health services.

“Currently there’s no reason for some professionals to relocate to the regions and open up their practices, if we work on making our communities more culturally rich, vibrant and a better place to live in, we will draw them out to regional Victoria.”

“When we invest in community infrastructure and the arts, reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, plan for innovative housing and shared community spaces. When we support our local businesses that give our townships character. We create more liveable townships, where people want to bring up their kids, or move back to when they become professionals.” 

“We can create communities we all want to belong to and that is worth voting independent for!”