The western Melbourne teacher: ‘Hecs debt, that’s a big problem’

Ed Bryant says politicians are not held to the same standard of scrutiny as teachers. Composite: Guardian Design

Ed Bryant is almost constantly surrounded by children. The teacher and director of junior programs at Footscray Rangers soccer club in Melbourne’s inner west may not have any of his own, but his thoughts about politics are inevitably moulded by young people.

Bryant lives in Ardeer, on the western edge of the electorate of Fraser. The seat stretches from the Maribyrnong River, only 5km from the CBD, almost to the western boundary of greater Melbourne.