By Callum Ludwig
There are plenty of local faces campaigning to become State Members following the 26 November State Election, but it can often be a bit harder to find a local voice in the Upper House, with the Yarra Ranges split between the massive Northern and Eastern Victoria regions.
With the Eastern Victoria region spanning far into East Gippsland and Northern Victoria extending all the way to Mildura, a local voice in the Legislative Council could make a big difference come election time.
Melanie Sharp from Warburton (known as Melanie Audrey) is the Northern Victoria candidate for Fiona Patten’s Reason party, currently working as an Engagement and Communications specialist with a passion for movement building and taking on the role of Campaign Manager for Fiona Patten.
Ms Audrey has lived in Warburton since 2016 and said the beautiful progressive town of ‘Warby’ (and surrounding suburbs) is not represented by the current conservative make-up of Northern Victoria MPs.
“We deserve a voice championing the end of logging in native forests, standing up for those affected by the cost of living crisis, and championing action on climate change,” she said.
“I’ve been working in and around politics since 2014 and have an excellent grasp on how the political institution works but not because I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Like most people in this region, I was born into a working-class family and have had to work extremely hard to put myself through two and a half degrees, pursue a career and buy a home for my daughter and I. I have a lived experience with the big issues that affect people daily and have made my career about standing up for those affected by injustice and I don’t intend to stop now.”
Ms Audrey said that housing affordability, climate change-induced natural disaster preparedness and support for rural services are the biggest issues in the region.
She wants to introduce early intervention strategies to negate the possibility of homelessness, in particular for young people, a whole government approach toward addressing homelessness, mental health supports and approaches to negate and manage gender-based violence, a flexible approach to housing options with exploration into innovative housing models such as pop-up housing in underutilised buildings, transportable housing, and the use of surplus government land (through leases or sale) to create social housing, increased funding for the provision of purpose-built crisis accommodation, and where possible, appropriate onsite support so that wrap-around services are available for people who need them
“Homelessness is the deepest expression of social exclusion in our society. Adequate housing is a complex issue that needs multiple approaches at the same time to address. I support evidence-based long and short-term solution options to affordable housing,” she said.
“A vote for me is a vote for demanding that the Victorian Government declare a climate emergency and that every level of government must act now to negate the effects of climate change and divest from all fossil fuel exploration, mining and exports. This is the first step to addressing the rise in natural disasters that we are experiencing daily at the moment. But we must also have a robust adaptation strategy too. Rather than focusing only on managing the hazards, we need to understand the interdependent systems that our society depends on and work together to strengthen them.”
“In Warburton, we have a hospital sitting vacant. This is a travesty. I will be advocating for the decentralisation of health services with a priority being cutting the wait time for mental health services and specialist appointments.”
Despite being from a Northern Victoria town in Healesville, Adam Frogley is running for the Greens in the Eastern Victoria region which includes the suburbs of Seville, Wandin and Coldstream.
Mr Frogley was previously second on the Greens All-Blak Senate ticket for this year’s Federal election and just missed out on claiming a seat. He has lived in eastern/north-eastern Victoria for his entire life, growing up on Woi-wurrung country in Healesville and now works as the National Director inthe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Team for the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU).
Mr Forgley said he is passionate about many issues that are vitally important to constituents in the region and is proud to support the Greens’ lead candidate, Mat Morgan to be elected to the Legislative Council in the Victorian State Parliament.
“The environment, health, education, housing, and cost of living pressures are ever-present concerns for residents across the region and the State of Victoria, and I will work to assist our lead candidate Mat and their campaign to see greater action on these issues for residents in the Eastern Victorian region. I have 15 years of political experience through my role as a trade unionist and advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples working in the Australian higher education sector and years of working in the university, State, and local government sectors. Put simply, I wish to contribute to the betterment of all people, families and communities across the region and State.”
Mr Frogley said he is strongly supportive of all the policy positions of Greens from their stance on the current and future impacts of unmitigated climate change, the push to ensure self-determination for all Aboriginal peoples in Victoria, the financial strain of increasing cost of living and access to appropriate education and health care services.
“I believe the three biggest issues impacting constituents in the region are climate change and access to appropriate affordable housing, cost of living and health care. Without an appropriate plan to address climate change, we will continue to see greater fluctuations in our environment and increasingly frequent and devastating bushfires, floods, and other natural disasters. The Greens’ policies on climate change and energy will work to ensure Victoria is moving toward a safe, carbon-neutral future,” he said.
“The cost of living and housing affordability impact Victorians every day. The ability to purchase a home, or even obtain rental accommodation, is simply becoming a pipedream for many people and families. The Greens’ housing and homelessness policy will seek to ensure greater public and private rental housing and will seek to drive measures to provide opportunities for home ownership.”
“Healthcare for all Victorians is vitally important, in particular, access to appropriate healthcare services is something all Victorians must be afforded. As someone who suffers with a number of ongoing health concerns, I understand how important it is to be able to get healthcare when you need it. The Greens Health policy not only aims to provide better healthcare for all Victorians, but better access to appropriate services when needed.”
