2023-07-07
The Victorian Greens’ candidate for the upcoming Warrandyte by-election has said he’s ready to fight for stronger action on the climate crisis and housing affordability in the state parliament.
Last month, Deputy Mayor of Manningham City Council, Tomas Lightbody, was pre-selected as the Victorian Greens’ candidate for the by-election, which will take place on August 26.
As a young person, Lightbody is keenly aware of the impacts of climate change and the need to phase out fossil fuels like coal and gas.
He has also seen how the current housing crisis has left countless Victorians forced to choose between food and rent, as people across the state grapple with the skyrocketing cost-of-living.
If elected, Lightbody would fight to stop new fossil fuel projects like the disastrous ‘coal-to-hydrogen’ project currently being considered by Labor, and push for solutions to the housing crisis including a big build of public and affordable housing, and rent controls.
With support for the Victorian Liberals currently in freefall and with Labor potentially not even standing a candidate at all, the Greens are ready to put up a fight in this by-election.
In the Victorian State Election last year the Greens experienced their strongest election results ever, with voters electing Aiv Puglielli as their Upper House MLC for the North-Eastern Metropolitan region, which takes in the seat of Warrandyte.
Quotes attributable to Victorian Greens candidate for Warrandyte, Tomas Lightbody:
“Having grown up a Donvale local, I understand the preciousness of our local communities and environments in this seat, and feel the urgency with which we need to protect them.
“Support for the Victorian Liberals is currently in freefall, and with Labor potentially not even standing a candidate at all, this by-election will be incredibly unpredictable.
“If elected I’ll push the Victorian Labor Government to go further and faster on climate change and housing affordability, so that we can protect our precious environment and look after people doing it tough.
“Every vote for the Greens this by-election sends a message that people want progressive action, and that Labor and the Liberals can’t keep going with business as usual and just expect to keep their seats.”