CLAD in an open-neck khaki shirt and brown work shorts, Steve Moore is the antithesis of politicians in pinstripe suits.
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The straight-shooting small businessman admits he’s not a natural politician but he sees his outsider status as an asset at a time when people are frustrated with the status quo.
“Most people are bloody sick of politicians in their fancy clothes that have never worked a day in their lives,” Mr Moore said.
His wife Lisa calls him scruffy and tries to convince him to wear a freshly ironed shirt but Mr Moore turns down the suggestion, opting to keep his work clothes on for the photo shoot.
“He’s a straight-forward type of guy,” Mrs Moore said. “He had to be convinced to dress up for our wedding. But what you see is what you get.”
The 43-year-old is running for South West Coast representing Country Alliance, a minor party with a focus on rural issues and deregulation.
It’s the first time he has run for public office but issues related to both local and state government had galvanised him into making a stand. Retaining jumps racing, investment in a boat ramp along the Warrnambool foreshore and easing restrictions on small business are high priorities for the holiday park operator.
“The boat ramp issue shows the blokes in power have no idea what they’re on about,” Mr Moore said. “It’s just one review after another.
“Our holiday park is on the (Princes) Highway and you see massive boats on trailers drive past at the start of every weekend — off to Portland — and they head back home again on the Sunday.
“We’re missing out on all the money because the council and the (state) government just want to keep reviewing the boat ramp instead of building it.”
Along with summer, the May Racing Carnival is one of the most lucrative periods for the Warrnambool Holiday Park each year.
However, when uncertainty over the jumps racing component of the event hung over the race meeting five years ago, Mr Moore noticed a steep drop in patronage.
“Every year, we get our regulars that come to stay here at the park,” he said. “They go to the races each day, go to the pubs and restaurants at night. Every year they book 12 months ahead. But when the government were looking at banning jumps racing (in 2009), more than half of the regulars didn’t re-book for next year’s May races.
“It was only when they said jumps racing was safe that they all called to say they’d be back next year. Do-gooders who say the May races can do without jumps racing don’t know what they’re talking about.”
Originally from suburban Melbourne, Mr Moore’s father was a typewriter technician and his mother was a housewife. With office technology rapidly shifting towards electronic word processors, the young Steve didn’t contemplate following in his father’s footsteps.
He gained a motor mechanical apprenticeship and later worked in asphalting. The open road later beckoned and Mr Moore became a truck driver. But injuries sustained after an on-road collision altered his career prospects and turned his attention towards south-west Victoria.
Mr Moore bought Warrnambool Holiday Park eight years ago and married Lisa soon after. The keen fisherman said moving to a regional centre opened his eyes to the city-centric views of many Melburnians.
“Moving to Warrnambool was one of the best things that’s ever happened to me,” he said. “People say ‘hello’ in the street. Everybody knows somebody else.”
The small businessman said he was not particularly interested in politics until recent times but said he had long felt alienated by the major parties. He was approached by Country Alliance upper house candidate Garry Kerr earlier this year to contest the November 29 state election but it took some time for Mr Kerr to persuade him to stand.
“I had thought about standing for (Warrnambool City Council) before and I might give it a go at the next council elections,” Mr Moore said. “There’s a few issues that I want to work at. You can sit around, read the paper and whinge about things or you can give it a go.
“I’ve been a blue collar worker all my life and I run my own business. More workers should be standing up and having their say.”