Laszlo advocates a fair go

But the five members, who have now declared themselves independent, ran out of time to do so, Laszlo Strasser told the Post.

Mr Strasser, 81, is the fourth member of a group, also comprising former Hume Labor candidate Robin Saville, Jason Shepherd, Goulburn Labor Party branch president and former councillor Roger Lucas and Andrew Thistleton, contesting the September 8 elections.

The ticket will appear below the line on the left side of the ballot paper. Members have declared their Labor Party membership, stressed they’re not endorsed by the party and said politics would not influence their decisions.

After his education in Sydney he worked as a file clerk, a cadet architectural draftsperson, doing odd jobs and as a tram conductor.

The notion of a fair go shaped his political leanings, and he’s been a Labor Party member for many years.

Asked whether this should have a place on Council, Mr Strasser said: “People bring their thoughts and beliefs onto Council and there’s nothing wrong with that. To deny one’s beliefs is to be untrue to yourself.”

It’s the second time Mr Strasser has stood for Goulburn Mulwaree. He says the area needs a “push along” and the current council is a little “stale of ideas” and “complacent.”

As a musician who studied in Budapest and Vienna, and later played cello with the Queensland and Sydney Symphony Orchestras, he’s keen to see a proper performing arts venue in Goulburn.

He said he was disappointed to find acoustics at the proposed multi-use centre wouldn’t be adequate and called for a venue with a stage large enough for 100 musicians.

“There are possibilities in Goulburn and I hope the architects can have good imagination and courage to come up with something and the people with money, the courage to be generous,” he said.

The aged pensioner says he understands the needs of the elderly, particularly when it comes to health care and the need to support carers. He looks after his wife, Pauline, who has Parkinson’s Disease.

“In 2007 I had a heart operation and I was most impressed by the doctors, nurses and health workers,” he said.

“I feel I owe it to them to represent them.”

Specifically, he’d like to see more bulk billing, greater access to specialists in Goulburn and better transport services.

He favours a fast train connection through Goulburn and even upgrading the local airport to international status.

As a former transport industry worker, Mr Strasser also advocates light rail for the disused Goulburn to Crookwell line.

The proposed Marketplace redevelopment should not close off part of Verner St, he argued, as it would restrict access to places like the railway station.

“I have an alternative. Why don’t these people (the developer) build an overpass and that way the street wouldn’t be blocked off?” he said.

“It would be more expensive but a better solution.”

Mr Stasser commended the current council for encouraging new businesses like Target and Bunnings to town, but felt it needed “to go further.”

No longer could people claim we didn’t have enough water.

He felt both Council and the community were a little afraid of competition, tended to be conservative and comfortable in the status quo.

On heritage, Mr Strasser does not favour retention simply because a building is old, but exercising greater judgement. Keeping St Clair was a must.

Mr Strasser says he understands the needs of migrants. His own family suffered at the hands of the Nazis and migrated during the outbreak of World War Two.

“It is with a humble musician’s heart I ask for people’s vote in the coming council elections,” he said.