Members Forum with Opposition Leader Jess Wilson

On Wednesday 22 April the Committee for Frankston & Mornington Peninsula hosted the Victorian Leader of the Opposition, Jess Wilson MP, for a forum and Q&A with more than 90 committee members.

The Opposition Leader opened by responding to the Committee’s recently commissioned Benchmarking Report, where she acknowledged our region’s high taxation but little re-investment back into the region.

Jess then talked to the Opposition’s commitment to ‘completely rebuild’ Rosebud Hospital should her side of politics form government in November, with a commitment of $340 million.

The Opposition Leader then took questions from members in a forum moderated by Committee CEO Josh Sinclair.

Some of the key topics covered throughout the hour-long session included:

• The Opposition’s commitment to ‘completely rebuild’ Rosebud Hospital for $340 million – starting the redevelopment in their first term of government
• The Opposition's commitment to remove some relevant taxes, including the payroll tax imposed on all schools, the short-stay levy, and the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF).
• Roads and road repairs, potholes, and ongoing Peninsula Link closures and disruptions
• The impact of the Illicit tobacco trade on our local economy, policing and government revenue – raised by Ritchies IGA
• Local infrastructure improvements and public transport upgrades – including to the ageing bus network on the Mornington Peninsula
• Local sporting infrastructure improvements, including the demand for a basketball stadium on the southern peninsula
• The Opposition’s commitment to the proposed Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal (VRET) if it passes all remaining environmental safeguards, and in turn, the offshore wind industry and auction process. Jess reiterated her government’s focus would be on providing energy security and lowering costs for consumers.
• Providing more power to local governments in planning decisions
• Jess agreed that the peninsula should get its fair share of proportional funding, acknowledging the committee’s leading benchmarking report 2026
• Discussion around crisis housing and crisis support need and opportunities on the peninsula in a more nuanced approach

Facilitating forums with leading decision-makers from all sides of politics is a crucial role of the Committee, and we thank the Opposition Leader for her time and engagement with our members at The National in Cape Schanck.

Thank you to our members for joining us in such large numbers.

We look forward to hosting similar events and forums with leaders from across the political spectrum throughout the course of 2026 and in the lead up to the November State Election.

Photos: James Pyne Photography

Venue: The National, Cape Schanck

Guests: Zoe McKenzie MP, Chris Crewther MP, Renee Heath MP, Anne-Marie Hermans MP, Acting Mayor Mornington Peninsula Shire Paul Pingiaro, Mayor Frankston City Sue Baker