Due to changes the Andrews Labor Government pushed through in 2020 by now disgraced Local Government Minister Adem Somyurek, Merri-bek Council has to move away from 3 multi-member wards with proportional representation to 11 single member wards for the October 2024 Council Election, which will be conducted as a postal ballot.

Postal voting mailout starts 7 October, 2024 and voting closes 25 October 2024. The election will be by postal ballot. Please use the hashtag #MerribekVotes on election social media.

11 wards | Candidate Engagement | Local Climate Survey | Streets People Love | Waterways | Transport Accessibility | General Comments

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11 wards – one councillor to be elected from each ward

Candidate Engagement on Climate and Environment

Climate Action Merribek and Neighbours United for Climate Action surveyed candidates in all 11 wards on climate and sustainability issues, which included a climate emergency question, in keeping with the existing declaration by Council in 2018.

Survey Responses are published on posts for each ward containing the list of candidates, party affiliation or alignment (if any), public contact information (website, facebook, twitter if available), and their answers. We may also add extra information or links to 3rd party websites where we think it empowers voters on making an informed decision at the ballot box.

We sent out our local climate survey to all 55 candidates in 11 wards on 13 September, and followed it up with a reminder email 27 September. The reminder email also included reminders for two statewide survey/pledges by Vote Climate on Climate Emergency and the Stop Burning Plastic Pledge on building waste Incinerators. We also joined in supporting the Streets People Love Survey, but did not have any involvement in developing the scorecard or assessing candidates for this survey.

We note that Councillors need to be responsive and engage with citizens. So each of these surveys was in a minimal sense a test of candidate willingness to engage and consult prior to be elected, irrespective of the issue. Those who did not respond, especially to the local climate survey and the local Streets for People survey, have already demonstrated by their inaction and lack of response to local citizens on issues of importance that regularly come up as part of council businerss and governance. We note there was one candidate in Brunswick West who refused to participate in the local climate survey but had the good grace at least to send an email response for her refusal to participate.

Engagement Matrix

As of 8 October the following responses in each ward of Merribek for these four surveys. Please check the specific Ward page for detailed responses:

Ward	Local climate Survey	Climate Emergency Survey (statewide)	Stop Burning Plastic Survey on Waste (statewide)	Streets People Love
Bababi Djinanang 4 Candidates	1 response Sue Bolton	1 response Sue Bolton	2 responses Sue Bolton Lance Sinclair	4 responses Sue Bolton Lance Sinclair Hassaan Gul Lynton Joseph
Box Forest 5 candidates	1 response Metin Golbasi	1 response Metin Golbasi	2 responses Metin Golbasi Lewis Morre	2 responses Metin Golbasi Lewis Moore
Brunswick West 5 candidates	3 responses Ella Svensson Lambros Tapinos Kathleen De Courcy-Browne responded, did not participate	3 responses Ella Svensson Anneke Demanuele Lambros Tapinos	3 responses Ella Svensson Anneke Demanuele Lambros Tapinos	3 responses Ella Svensson Anneke Demanuele Lambros Tapinos
Bulleke-Bek 5 Candidates	5 responses Jay Iwasaki Mel Yuan Louisa Bassini Owen Miller Helen Breier	4 responses Jay Iwasaki Mel Yuan Owen Miller Helen Breier	4 responses Jay Iwasaki Mel Yuan Owen Miller Helen Breier	5 responses Jay Iwasaki Mel Yuan Louisa Bassini Owen Miller Helen Breier
Djirri-Djirri 6 candidates	1 response Praveen Kumar	0	0	0
Harmony Park 6 candidates	2 responses Angelica Panopoulous Helen Politis	2 responses Angelica Panopoulous Helen Politis	2 responses Angelica Panopoulous Helen Politis	3 responses Angelica Panopoulous Jordan Armaou-Massoud Helen Politis
Pascoe Vale South 3 candidates	0	2 responses Emma Dook Corey Perkins	2 responses Emma Dook Corey Perkins	2 responses Emma Dook Corey Perkins
Pentridge 7 Candidates	3 responses Suzan Saka Kenna Morrison Nat Abboud	2 responses Nat Abboud Jacob Andrewartha	3 responses Kenna Morrison Nat Abboud Jacob Andrewartha	4 responses Kenna Morrison Nat Abboud Jacob Andrewartha Anthony Helou
Randazzo 5 candidates	2 responses Liz Irvin Felix Dance	2 responses Liz Irvin Felix Dance	2 responses Liz Irvin Felix Dance	3 responses Liz Irvin Felix Dance Tom Nash
Warrk-Warrk 3 candidates	2 Responses Adam Pulford Jenne Perstein	2 responses Adam Pulford Jo-Ann Hope	1 response Adam Pulford	2 responses Adam Pulford Jenne Perstein
Westbreen 6 candidates	1 Response Emma Burrows	0	2 Responses Chloe Holmes Emma Burrows	1 Response Chloe Holmes

Climate Survey aggregate answers

Our local climate survey had 17 questions and took on average 46 minutes for candidates to complete. The purpose of the survey was twofold. Firstly, to get candidates to think about the many current Council policies and strategies dealing with different areas of addressing climate mitigation and adaptation in Merribek and how they can perhaps be improved. Secondly to inform constituents on Candidate views, experiences and thoughts on Council priorities, strategies and policies. Addressing core areas such as roads, rates and rubbish involves addressing climate and sustainability issues. They are deeply entwined.

Here are aggregated answers to the questions we asked. For individual candidate responses, please visit the specific ward page.

Question 2: Wards represented by candidates in the Local climate survey:
Note: Many of the candidates also filled out the statewide Climate Emergency survey. This included two of the three candidates for Pascoe Vale.

Question 5: Climate Emergency:

Question 6: Triple Bottom Line Governance:

Question 7: Upgrade Upfield Line:

Question 8: Transport General

Question 9: Addressing heat vulnerability

Question 10 : Waste Management (by inference this also included rubbish collection, street sweeping if the candidates were pre-disposed to mention in their response)

Question 11: Energy Efficiency and Renewables

Question 12 Supporting business to become more sustainable, sustainable jobs

Question 13 addressing Food security

Question 14 on Buildings, biodiversity and urban cooling (by inference this also covered development issues if the candidates wanted to address that issue)

Question 15 – top priorities for Council

Question 16: Local democracy: single member or multimember wards

Question 17: Other comment, local climate and sustainability leadership

Streets People Love Candidate Scorecard

The Streets People Love campaign has created scorecards for candidates in the 2024 council elections in Victoria. Scorecards have been generated based on a candidate’s engagement with the Streets People Love campaign, their commitment to our pledge, their responses to a survey and input from campaign members located in the local government area in which they are running. The local community groups running this scorecard in the City of Merri-bek are Walk on Merri-bek and Merri-bek Bicycle Users Group Inc. Climate Action Merri-bek came on board to support this campaign.

Streets People Love Merri-bek candidate Scorecard .

Waterways – Merri Creek, Moonee Ponds Creek

Friends of Merri Creek have surveyed candidates in all wards. The Merri Creek corridor is iconic and questions of sustainability, pollution and biodiversity should be a municipal wide concern to all candidates. The survey is focussed on Merri Creek, Edgars Creek and Coburg Lake, and neglects Merlynston Creek and Campbellfield Creek tributaries. It also ignores the importance of Moonee Ponds Creek and tributaries such as Westbreen Creek on the western side of the municipality, which may provide a reason why candidates from western wards were less likely to do the survey.

See Friends of Merri Creek 2024 election guide for six Councils in the Merri Creek Catchment.

View the Candidate responses for Merri-bek wards (PDF)

Transport Accessibility

The State Government has a commitment to upgrading all tram stops to make them accessibility friendly. This is a particularly important issue given plans to close the Upfield railway line during Skyrail construction in 2027-2030. Tram stops on Sydney Road need to be upgraded to be disability friendly before work starts on Brunswick Skyrail. While the work is a state issue, Council needs to strongly advocate for new accessible tram stops.

Accessible tram stops not only benefit disabled people, but also the elderly, children, parents with prams or strollers.

See the Sydney Road Accessible Tram Stops Campaign on Facebook.

General Comments

Merri-bek Labor Party Policy document
Merribek Labor are running candidates in all wards, including Lambros Tapinos up for re-election, and have produced a local Policy document which can be viewed here: https://merri-beklabor.com.au/merri-bek-labor-policy-platform-2024-2028/

The Greens do not appear to have a local council policy document. Adam Pulford and Angelica Panopoulous are up for re-election. The Greens have a joint Merr-bek and Hume Branch

Socialist Alliance are running 4 candidates in Merri-bek including Sue Bolton up for re-election. Read more about them here.

Victorian Socialists are running candidates in several wards. Read the Victorian Socialists council campaign and policies platform

The Fusion Party is running Owen Miller in Bulleke-Bek.

The Independents Group
There is a grouping of Independent Council Candidates co-ordinating together. Sort of like a coalition without being a party. This grouping includes 3 existing Independent Councillors up for re-election and others. It is noteable that none of these candidates filled out the local climate survey even though if they are elected to Council they will vote on policies and strategies that include environment, climate and sustainability components. Kathleen De Courcy-Browne at least had the good grace to send an email response declining participation. Except for Kathleen Browne they all lose brownie points in passing the first test of being a Councillor – nominal engagement with constituents on local issues.

*Oscar Yildiz (Pascoe Vale South)
*Helen Davidson (Djirri-Djirri)
*Helen Pavlidis (Westbreen)
Renee Egglestone (Westbreen)
Voula Allimonos (Randazzo)
Jason Clarke (Harmony Park)
Stephen Schembri (Harmony Park)
Kathleen De Courcy-Browne (Brunswick West)
Lynton Joseph (Bababi Djinanang)
Daniel De Lorenzis (Pentridge)

Anthony Helou (Independent – Pentridge)

Anthony Helou, is a former member of the Labor party, a former Councillor and Mayor, standing as an Independent in Pentridge Ward. According to the Age he is standing for Council Watch. He was on Council and involved in the Community group Al Awda Community Centre that was allowed to purchase Montfort Park at a substantial discount in Brunswick in 2002, as long as the park remained accessible to the public. But since they took over ownership the site has been fenced with no public access. The latest news in late September 2024 is that the Appeals Court has thrown out an appeal appliction by Montfort Park owners. See the recent stories about Montfort Park from Brunswick Voice.

Oscar Yildiz, Helen Pavlidis

Current Councillors Helen Pavlidis and Oscar Yildiz are both former members of the Labor Party, but were last elected to Council as Independents. They were also both members of the Victorians Party to contest the 2022 Victorian state election. The party voluntarily de-registered in September 2022 before the election, but with questions over money raised and how it was spent.

Nat Abboud (Independent – Pentridge)

After a term absent from Council and previously elected representing the Greens, including as Mayor, Natalie Abboud is standing as an Independent candidate for Pentridge Ward.

Retiring Councillors

Greens Councillor Mark Riley announced his retirement from Merri-bek Council and would not be contesting the election.

Councillor James Conlan was elected for the Greens but turned Independent. He announced he would not be contesting the election for Council.

Councillor Monica Harte (Socialist Alliance) was elected on a count back in 2023 after Milad El-Halabi resigned due to vote tampering allegations.. She is not recontesting the 2024 election. Her election came after Milad El-Halabi (ALP) was found by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) to be unduly elected due to ballot tampering in the 2020 election. El-Halabi avoided a jail sentence but was fined $20,000 and handed an 18-month community work order in June 2024

Scorecard From Streets People Love

The Streets People Love campaign has created scorecards for candidates in the 2024 council elections in Victoria. Scorecards have been generated based on a candidate’s engagement with the Streets People Love campaign, their commitment to our pledge, their responses to a survey and input from campaign members located in the local government area in which they are running.

Scorecard for all Candidate for all 11 Merri-bek wards.

The local community groups running this scorecard in the City of Merri-bek are Walk on Merri-bek and Merri-bek Bicycle Users Group Inc. Climate Action Merribek recently joined the Streets People Love Campaign but did not play any role in scorecard development or scoring.

Brunswick Voice and other Media:

The Age, Statewide Council election 4 question candidate survey and candidate profile https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/we-surveyed-your-local-election-candidates-see-what-they-really-think-20240929-p5kec0.html

Mark Phillips / September 23, 2024, Brunswick Voice, These 18 candidates want your vote next month https://brunswickvoice.com.au/these-18-candidates-want-your-vote-next-month/

Mark Phillips / September 4, 2024, Brunswick Voice, Socialists target renters’ votes. Candidate says party offers alternative to Labor and Greens. https://brunswickvoice.com.au/socialists-target-renters-votes/ Story focuses on Victorian Socialists candidates, in particular Louisa Bassini standing in Bulleke-bek ward

Mark Phillips / August 20, 2024, Brunswick Voice, Battlelines drawn for council elections. Labor line-up includes new and familiar faces. Focus is on the Labor candidates for each ward and main opposition. https://brunswickvoice.com.au/battlelines-drawn-for-council-elections/

May 31, 2024, Brunswick Voice, Greens aim for control of council. Outlines the Greens candidate team for 8 wards.  https://brunswickvoice.com.au/greens-aim-for-control-of-council/

Election Timeline

The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) will run this Merri-bek Council election as a fully postal ballot. Important dates as sourced from the VEC:

• Wednesday 07 August 2024 Roll closes at 4 pm
• Monday 09 September 2024 Nominations open at 9 am
• Tuesday 17 September 2024 Nominations, candidate statements, photographs, and questionnaires close at 12 noon
• Wednesday 18 September 2024 Ballot draw
• Monday 07 October 2024 Ballot pack mail out begins
• Friday 25 October 2024 Voting closes at 6 pm
• Friday 01 November 2024 All postal votes must be received by 12 noon
• Friday 15 November 2024 All election results declared

References

The Tally Room Profile on Merri-bek Council 2024 election https://www.tallyroom.com.au/viccouncil2024/merribek2024

Brunswick Voice, 31 May 2024, Greens aim for control of council https://brunswickvoice.com.au/greens-aim-for-control-of-council/

Green Left, 3 May 2024, Sue Bolton: ‘We need a council that stands up for people’ https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/sue-bolton-we-need-council-stands-people
See also: Re-Elect Sue Bolton: 2024 Merri-Bek Council Election Campaign https://socialist-alliance.org/elections/re-elect-sue-bolton-2024-merri-bek-council-election-campaign

See Merri-bek Victorian Socialists Instagram account on Merri-bek candidates https://www.instagram.com/vsmerribek/?hl=en

6 News, Your guide to the 2024 Merri-bek City Council election https://www.localelections.com.au/post/your-guide-to-the-2024-merri-bek-city-council-election

Map of Merri-bek 11 Wards by VEC, used under Creative Commons licence.

Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) 2024 Merri-bek Council Election, https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/voting/2024-local-council-elections/merri-bek-city-council

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