My priorities in office will be:
- Employment: Youth unemployment is at very high levels and unemployment is increasing with the closure of many manufacturing industries. We need to create jobs for the next generation.
- Education and childcare: More kindergarten and childcare places are required in Burwood, I will work to secure these.
- Shared paths: Building safe cycling infrastructure separated from traffic for all ages of cyclists and pedestrians to use. The Anniversary Trail is an excellent route but a bridge is urgently needed across Toorak Road. The North East Bicycle Corridor must be built whether or not the East West Link proceeds.
- Water: Reinstate water usage targets so that we conserve scarce water resources.
- National Parks: I support the creation of the Great Forest National Park and stopping the logging of Melbourne’s water catchments. We should protect our native forests for future generations to enjoy.
- Climate change: Reducing Victoria’s carbon emissions to tackle climate change - reinstate carbon emission reduction and energy efficiency targets to support our transition to renewable energy.
- Transparency and accountability: Recent governments, both Labor and Liberal/National, have made big decisions behind closed doors involving billions of dollars without clear business cases and with little or no public consultation. We have a right to know how our money is being spent rather then being kept in the dark with "commercial in confidence" and "cabinet confidential" contracts.
- Health: I support policy shifts and funding to enable hospitals to provide women with access to midwifery care models
- Public transport: Upgrade Victoria’s public transport system, including building new rail lines to Doncaster, Rowville and Melbourne Airport. The Alamein Lane could be extended to Chadstone.
- Road congestion: Many roads through Burwood, including Warrigal and Toorak Roads, carry very heavy traffic and are often congested. The East West Link will generate even more traffic if it is built. More trains and the North East Bike Corridor will provide a much better alternative for many trips.
- TAFE: I support the TAFE4ALL pledge to restore funding to TAFE
- Housing: Ensuring new residential development is sustainable, well planned and the character of our distinctive suburbs is preserved.
- Political donations: Corporate donations to political parties and candidates buy influence and can compromise our democracy - they should be banned.
I look forward to getting your feedback on local issues that are important to you. You can send me feedback using this [online form]
