Jaclyn Symes faces criticism for not owning property in her regional electorate
Labor MP Jaclyn Symes no longer owns property in her regional electorate. But she says she has access to a rental house.
Environment Minister Jaclyn Symes has drawn criticism for not owning a home in her Northern Victoria electorate. Symes says she has access to a rental property there.
Symes represents the sprawling region from Mildura to Corryong. Symes maintains a residence in inner Melbourne.
Fellow Northern Victoria MPs from the Nationals and One Nation argue that politicians should live full-time in their seats. They say this helps understand local pressures.
These include health care access and road conditions. Georgie Purcell sympathised with Symes' balancing act as a minister and mother.
But she said the expectation remains to live in the electorate. Symes defended her commitment.
She cited a North East trip on September 17.
- Broadford (no longer owned)
- Previous property
- Inner Melbourne
- Current residence
- 2
- Symes' children
Why it mattersThis debate shows tension between two things. Politicians have duties in the capital. But voters expect them to stay connected to regional communities.
AustraliaThis raises questions about how Victoria's regional MPs divide their time and whether they can truly represent communities they do not live in.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 17 h ago
