One of Australia's foremost corruption authors Raymond Hoser is set to run for Frankston East in the upcoming by-election.

Hoser is an author of seven books including the recent top sellers Victoria Police Corruption and Victoria Police Corruption - 2. Those two books were released on August 2 this year and are believed to have contributed to the substantial swing against the Kennett government in last weekend's election. It is also understood that the release of the books was one of the factors leading to Premier Jeff Kennett rushing to the polls earlier than expected (two weeks after the books hit the streets.

Both books have several chapters detailing previously unreported corruption involving Kennett and his government and over 10,000 copies sold in less than a month, forcing the production of further copies.

In the first book, are details of a promise made by Labor in the lead-up to the election which Hoser claims will be immediately broken should Bracks form a government. The book reproduces a letter from the ALP that says Labor will have a Royal Commission into Police corruption should it be voted into government. Hoser says it has been planned to break that promise already.

Hoser said 'The weekend's election result was not a vote for Steve Bracks and Labor. The electorate are not that stupid. Instead it was a vote against Kennett.' Hoser said that the public had become sick and tired of a dishonesty in government by both the major parties and had only swung towards Labor for want of alternatives.

Hoser has pledged to use his position if elected to push for more accountability in government and an end to the corrupt special deals that have characterized the Kennett government and the Cain/Kirner government that preceded it. He will also push for an open public inquiry into the rising crime rate and the administration of justice in Victoria. Five of Hoser's books have detailed corruption in the justice system. In spite of claims by those named in Hoser's book that Hoser's books aren't accurate, the fact is that no one has ever won a defamation claim against Hoser (and he has won 22). Truth and public interest was the legal defence in each and every case!

Hoser's decision to stand for the seat of Frankston East has come after he was swamped with calls from Frankston locals asking him to stand. Support for the previous independent member was huge and it was feared that without a high-calibre independent candidate, the seat may go back to being Liberal or Labor for want of alternatives. Hoser said 'A vote for either Liberal or Labor is a wasted seat'. 'Frankston constituents don't want a "yes man" who will do nothing for them, when they come to him with a problem, because they may upset their party in government'.

Hoser is married with a daughter.

Further Information: Crotalus at Kotabi Publishing: 03 XXX AAC Campaign Office XXX Author Raymond Hoser on 0412-777-211 (all hours)

(A high resolution image of Raymond Hoser for reproduction by media can be downloaded by clicking on this text or the picture of him above)

Hoser's books website is at: http://www.policecorruption.com or mirror sites.