By Tara Murray
New Gorton MP Alice Jordan-Baird says she has lots of energy and a long list of things she wants to achieve in her new role.
Ms Jordan-Baird was voted in as the new member for Gorton, which covers part of Brimbank and Melton, replacing the retiring Brendan O’Connor.
Speaking before she headed to Canberra for the first time as an MP, Ms Jordan-Baird said she was excited and humbled.
“It’s been a big week and I think it’s still settling in,” she said. “I’m so excited and so humbled at the opportunity.
“It’s been a big campaign and I’m so proud. I’ve got some big shoes to fill.”
At just 32, Ms Jordan-Baird will be one of, if not the youngest MP in the new parliament.
She said while she knew she was young, she felt she would represent her local community well.
“The medium age is 35,” she said. “It’s young families who need young voices. I want to be that voice.”
Ms Jordan-Baird comes from a science background but has always had a love of politics.
It was something she shared with her sister Clara, who died in 2017.
Ms Jordan-Baird said she felt her sister was on the campaign with her and she would be proud of her achievement to be elected.
The Sydenham resident, who celebrated her first wedding anniversary at pre-polling, said there were two key issues that locals had told her they wanted addressed.
The first main issue was infrastructure.
“With a growing community there has to be a more effective way of planning for growth and not being reactive,“ she said.
“I’m excited there’s money in the budget for the Western Freeway and we can get that started and $300 million for Calder Park Drive so we can reduce traffic congestion.”
The other area is healthcare.
“We’re promised $8.5 billion to strengthen Medicare, which is life changing for a lot of people,” she said.
“A lot of people put off going because of the gap.The gap will be minimised and free for others.
“People are more likely to see the doctor and it’s a much better health outcome.”
Ms Jordan-Baird said the announcement to build an urgent care centre at Sunshine Hospital was also important for health care in the area.
