2026-07-24
Vale, our Brilliant friend Tim Read
Tribute from Ellen Sandell and the Victorian Greens
The Victorian Greens are grieving the loss of our dear friend, colleague and beloved MP for Brunswick Tim Read this week, following his courageous fight with melanoma.
Tim passed away on September 19th, surrounded by family and love. At this time of incredible pain and sadness, we offer our deepest love to his wife Angela, his children Louisa and Martin, and all of Tim’s family and friends.
Tim was a brilliant local MP, doctor and scientist – but to those who knew him, he was also the kindest, funniest and most fundamentally decent of people.
He was a mentor to so many in the Greens movement and had an un-matched ability to make people feel truly seen and heard.
“Tim brought wisdom, calm consideration and gentle humour to everything he did. He was a brilliant and dedicated local representative for his community in Brunswick. A beloved, dependable and cheeky member of our Victorian Greens team.” - Katherine Copsey
Tim was a fundamentally decent person. But more than that, he made the people around him want to be decent people too. He gave everyone who approached him his time and respect. He was a perfect part of our team. Big-hearted and open-minded.” - Gabrielle De Vietri
Tim never held back from speaking truth to power, whether it was getting arrested for spray-painting health messages on tobacco billboards prior to getting elected, or taking it up to the Premier in Question Time.
Yet, he was also the most well-liked MP in state parliament, respected across the community for that rarest combination in a politician: conviction, integrity, wit and genuine humility.
He came to politics determined to improve people’s lives and protect our climate and environment, and to do it all while riding a bike and with a huge grin on his face.
Over 8 years in Parliament, Tim’s work delivered real change for Victoria.
“He had a brilliant mind and was curious about other people, always understanding and never quick to judge. He was ever interested in learning new things and figuring out how to put that knowledge to use to make positive change. He was always open minded and considerate of all views, yet grounded in strong values and never afraid to speak truth to power.” - Sarah Mansfield
His early advocacy led to major public health reforms that ended up becoming reality: pill-testing, tobacco licensing, abolishing public drunkenness laws, a statewide plan to eradicate congenital syphilis and HIV transmission, allowing gay men to donate blood, and a statutory ban on solitary confinement in prisons.
None of these reforms will have Tim’s name on them, but it’s likely none would’ve happened without his advocacy.
During the COVID pandemic we were particularly fortunate to have an infectious diseases doctor in our Greens Party Room and in Parliament.
He applied his experience without partisanship or fanfare, working behind the scenes to improve the Government’s response, and to support health workers, while also never shying from publicly opposing the disproportionate police response to breaches of public health laws.
Tim’s contribution to Victoria’s anti-corruption and integrity laws was perhaps his biggest achievement.
He introduced laws, later picked up by the Government, to: force ministers to make their diaries public, end ‘preference whispering’ and dodgy Group Voting Tickets, and create an independent parliamentary integrity commissioner.
“He fought hard across the political aisle to put in place the strongest safeguards to protect democracy from exploitation. He got the job done by working for a long time to abolish GVTs. I’m so grateful he got to witness this reform take place. Although you won’t get the public acknowledgement for all your hard work behind the scenes. Today we acknowledge your long held commitment to integrity in our democracy.” - Anasina Gray-Barberio
“Tim was such an astoundingly good role model. So many men in politics show you exactly what not to do, all the ways that bring negative associations to politics and the people who set out to practice the art of the possible. Tim showed his very best every single day. He was genuine, he was authentically himself, he was an ally to all of us in the fight against injustice. - Aiv Puglielli
Tim’s personal integrity was unmatched.
He could always see the moral question at the heart of every political issue. It’s why he was so outspoken when it came to supporting the cause of the Palestinian people, and why he continued to remind us all about how much coal was being burned in Victoria each day.
He never lost perspective about what was truly important.
It’s a measure of Tim’s character that after his diagnosis of metastatic melanoma, he sought neither accolades nor sympathy. Instead he began a campaign to save VicHealth, our only health promotion agency, so other families wouldn’t lose a loved one to preventable disease.
Even until his final days, it felt like Tim had so much more life in him. Even though he knew so much, he was still learning, still curious. He was an enthusiastic participant in life and fought with such courage and hope for a better world.
“Tim loved Brunswick and Brunswick loved Tim. You couldn’t walk down Sydney Road or visit a local cafe with about a chorus of hellos and well wishes. He taught me how to show up with integrity, to see the best in people and community, to find common ground and build strength by working together.” - Adam Pulford
“Tim was community. He connected with people, connected people, and built networks joined together for an unyielding mission. And that was to protect our planet. He loved the people of Brunswick. He loved The Greens. We are now responsible for carrying on the mission. In his name and in his memory - we will.” - Samantha Ratnam
Tim showed what the best of politics can look like – “hope in motion,” as he called it in his valedictory speech.
The image of him pulling up on his bike with an enthusiastic grin, at a climate protest, a community meeting or at the lights on Sydney Road, will stay with us forever.
Vale, our brilliant friend. We will miss you.
Tim and his family asked that in lieu of flowers, please send donations to Friends of the Earth and the Inner North Community Foundation.