2016-11-09
Ms DUNN (Eastern Metropolitan) — I am delighted to be able to report to this house the wonderful outcome for the Victorian Greens at the recent local government elections. The Greens increased their local government representation from 16 to 29 councillors across the state. This is an amazing outcome, and it demonstrates the power of grassroots campaigning. It shows that the values and policies of the Greens are embraced throughout the state.
The Greens were successful in Ballarat, with Belinda Coates returned as councillor. Banyule has its first Greens councillor in Peter Castaldo. Bendigo elected Jennifer Alden to council. In Cardinia, Michael Schilling was elected. Colac Otway returned Stephen Hart. Dandenong did the same with Matthew Kirwan. Darebin saw Trent McCarthy returned, and Kim Le Cerf, Steph Amir and Susanne Newton were newly elected. Clare Davey was elected in Glen Eira. Jonathon Marsden will be the first Greens councillor in Hobsons Bay. Indigo returned Jenny O'Connor. Maribyrnong elected Simon Crawford. Melbourne re-elected Cathy Oke and Rohan Leppert. Monash elected Josh Fergeus. The City of Moreland saw Samantha Ratnam re-elected, along with Mark Riley, Natalie Abboud and Dale Martin. Mount Alexander returned Bronwen Machin. Port Phillip went green with Tim Baxter, Katherine Copsey and Ogy Simic. The City of Yarra returned Misha Coleman and Amanda Stone and also elected Mike McEvoy and James Searle. We congratulate all the councillors, and we know that they will work very, very hard for their communities in the upcoming term.