All candidates who have announced that they are standing in the 2026 State election for the seat of Pascoe Vale have been invited to attend the candidates forum on 5th November, and all candidates were sent the following survey. We haven’t received any responses to our emails from One Nation or Family First, and at this stage there is no candidate for the Liberals.
Below are the current responses to our survey in the order in which we’ve received them. We’ll update this information if/when we receive further responses.
- Energy & Emissions
- Waste to Energy – Incinerators
- Data Centres in our area and neighbouring areas
- Forests
- Public Transport
- Active Transport
Energy & Emissions
| In 2026 we had the hottest ever day recorded in Victoria, and 2027 is predicted to be even hotter with global average temperatures 1.7 degrees or more above pre-industrial levels. We need to meet and preferably exceed our state emissions reduction targets. Q: Will you commit to maintain and strengthen Victoria’s emissions reduction targets? (Helpful resource on current targets here. References here and here. | ||||||
| GREENS Angelica Panopoulos | SOCIALIST ALLIANCE Jacob Andrewartha | VICTORIAN SOCIALISTS Yasemin Shamsili | LABOR Anthony Cianflone | FAMILY FIRST Kathrine Asthon | ONE NATION Andrew Forehan | LIBERALS |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Response coming | No response | No response | No candidate announced |
| For many locals, energy costs are a big part of the increase in the cost of living. Gas is harmful to our health and the climate and will be increasingly costly for those who can’t disconnect it. Q: Will you ensure that current measures to keep energy costs down including gas phaseout, rental minimum standards and support for efficient appliances, are maintained and strengthened? (Helpful resource on current measures here) | ||||||
| GREENS Angelica Panopoulos | SOCIALIST ALLIANCE Jacob Andrewartha | VICTORIAN SOCIALISTS Yasemin Shamsili | LABOR Anthony Cianflone | FAMILY FIRST Kathrine Asthon | ONE NATION Andrew Forehan | LIBERALS |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Response coming | No response | No response | No candidate announced |
| Q: Have you signed the Cheaper Power Pledge? Link to pledge here | ||||||
| GREENS Angelica Panopoulos | SOCIALIST ALLIANCE Jacob Andrewartha | VICTORIAN SOCIALISTS Yasemin Shamsili | LABOR Anthony Cianflone | FAMILY FIRST Kathrine Asthon | ONE NATION Andrew Forehan | LIBERALS |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Response coming | No response | No response | No candidate announced |
| Climate Council data confirms that renewable energy backed by storage is the cheapest power available. Scrapping the gas connection ban and failing to build critical clean energy infrastructure would expose households to rising and volatile gas prices. Q: Will your party maintain, modify or completely reverse the current gas substitution roadmap, including the ban on gas connections for new home builds and for new commercial premises from 1 January 2027? (Reference here) | ||||||
| GREENS Angelica Panopoulos | SOCIALIST ALLIANCE Jacob Andrewartha | VICTORIAN SOCIALISTS Yasemin Shamsili | LABOR Anthony Cianflone | FAMILY FIRST Kathrine Asthon | ONE NATION Andrew Forehan | LIBERALS |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Response coming | No response | No response | No candidate announced |
Waste to Energy – Incinerators
| Waste Incinerators are one of the most toxic, expensive, dangerous, and climate-polluting industries. Two of these Waste Incinerators are planned for within 15 km of Merri-bek (Wollert and Sunbury). We are directly connected by our air, water ways, and our water supply (Greenvale and Yan Yean Reservoirs). Q: Will you stand in Parliament and move to ban Waste Incinerators in Victoria? | ||||||
| GREENS Angelica Panopoulos | SOCIALIST ALLIANCE Jacob Andrewartha | VICTORIAN SOCIALISTS Yasemin Shamsili | LABOR Anthony Cianflone | FAMILY FIRST Kathrine Asthon | ONE NATION Andrew Forehan | LIBERALS |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Response coming | No response | No response | No candidate announced |
Data Centres in our area and neighbouring areas
| In September this year, the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions released the Sustainable Data Centre Action Plan which describes State Government expectations of Data Centre developments in terms of water, energy, employment and proximity to housing, but does not give a firm delivery date and will not be retrospective. Q: What will you do to ensure no mega Data Centres are approved for Pascoe Vale District before strong regulations around water usage, electricity demand and community impact have come into effect, and how will you ensure our neighbours in Campbellfield (Broadmeadows District) are able to influence decisions around the proposed Barry Rd hyperscale data centre? | ||||||
| GREENS Angelica Panopoulos | SOCIALIST ALLIANCE Jacob Andrewartha | VICTORIAN SOCIALISTS Yasemin Shamsili | LABOR Anthony Cianflone | FAMILY FIRST Kathrine Asthon | ONE NATION Andrew Forehan | LIBERALS |
| See response below | See response below | See response below | Response coming | No response | No response | No candidate announced |
GREENS – Angelica Panopoulos
The Greens are firmly opposed to the roll out of data centres. In addition to placing a moratorium on new AI data centres, the Greens will make those companies compensate residents already affected by existing facilities, including for noise, pollution and any loss of value to their properties. We will make all data centres run off 100% newly built renewable energy, including banning gas turbines and diesel back up generators, and requiring them to make an additional contribution to help the transition to renewables. It is also essential that the community can have their say about the shape of their community. This means transparent and meaningful engagement, ensuring governments can’t just ignore the impacts on their local communities, especially regarding air quality and noise levels.
SOCIALIST ALLIANCE – Jacob Andrewartha
If elected I would advocate against the approval and construction of new mega data centres including voting against parliamentary legislation that assists corporations in the construction of new data centres. I believe mega data centres don’t offer any benefit to society and represent serious risks to the environment, water supplies and the rapid expansion of them must be opposed. I would support calls for a moratorium on the construction of new data centres and support any legislation that negatively impacts on their construction and places regulations on big tech corporations. As an elected representative of Socialist Alliance I would use the resources of my parliamentary office to resource and support grassroots campaigns opposing the construction of mega data centres in any way I can. Furthermore, I’d advocate and campaign for the following policies and demands in parliament taken from Socialist Alliance general position on AI Data Centres and AI which includes. An immediate moratorium on new approvals and the construction of new data centres until enforceable and strong safeguards are legislated for people, the community, cultural heritage and the environment. A public inquiry to properly investigate the implications of the mega data centre industry before a moratorium is lifted and in order to inform the sorts of safeguards needed by the community and the environment. The inquiry needs to be easily accessible for the communities that are being impacted by data centres. Binding legislated standards for AI development, including substantiated claims of additional renewable energy Full disclosure of services delivered, emissions, finances and energy use, per project. Full assessment of compliance with human rights frameworks. Regulations on the use of AI to protect workers, artists and our data. A shorter working week, with no loss in pay, to stop AI being used to eliminate jobs.
VICTORIAN SOCIALISTS – Yasemin Shamsili
I believe we need an urgent and mass political campaign and emergency legislation to prevent and reverse the creation of data centres in our city and in the country at large. This means things like organising community forums with high quality accessible resources, protests and actions which engage the public and press conferences. I would gather academic and institutional support for preventing and dismantling data centres. I would use my position as MP to publicly educate and to link up with community groups in other districts and table community petitions and legislation.
Forests
| Most Victorians cherish our National Parks for their protection of beauty, habitat and species, yet funding for maintaining them and keeping out pests has been slashed. Native forest logging has officially ended in Victoria, yet crucial habitat trees continue to be felled without regulatory oversight. Q: Will you promise to demand at least 1% of the state’s budget for national parks and protection of natural areas, and legislate to close the logging loopholes? (Reference for forest problems: Victorians for Nature) | ||||||
| GREENS – Angelica Panopoulos | SOCIALIST ALLIANCE – Jacob Andrewartha | VICTORIAN SOCIALISTS – Yasemin Shamsili | LABOR – Anthony Cianflone | FAMILY FIRST – Kathrine Asthon | ONE NATION – Andrew Forehan | LIBERALS |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Response coming | No response | No response | No candidate announced |
Public Transport
| Infrastructure Victoria has stated that Duplicating the Upfield Line by 2030 is the equal top rail priority for Victoria. Q: What will you be doing before this election to demonstrate your commitment to Upgrading the Upfield Line by 2030? | ||||||
| GREENS Angelica Panopoulos | SOCIALIST ALLIANCE Jacob Andrewartha | VICTORIAN SOCIALISTS Yasemin Shamsili | LABOR Anthony Cianflone | FAMILY FIRST Kathrine Asthon | ONE NATION Andrew Forehan | LIBERALS |
| See response below | See response below | See response below | Response coming | No response | No response | No candidate announced |
GREENS – Angelica Panopoulos
The Greens are committed to fixing the Upfield Line, as recommended by Infrastructure Victoria, given it has one of the worst peak frequencies in Melbourne. We’ve consistently called for this across local and state government levels, and have supported community campaigns over the years. This was also demonstrated in the recent video where Northern Metro MP Anasina Gray-Barberio, Merri-bek Councillor (and Brunswick candidate) Adam Pulford, and I called on the line to just be duplicated: https://www.instagram.com/p/Dd0cb81zvKk/. We are continuing this advocacy throughout the election campaign in our conversations with the community.
SOCIALIST ALLIANCE – Jacob Andrewartha
Socialist Alliance supports calls for the duplication of the Upfield line and our public transport policy advocates for increased accessibility of public transport including disability access and more frequent routes, a massive expansion of existing infrastructure and we argue that public transport should be free. Socialist Alliance members including elected Merri-bek councillor Sue Bolton were part of initiating the Upfield Transport Alliance (now known as Upgrade Upfield Line) and organised several rallies and public forums demanding that the State government duplicate the Upfield Line.
VICTORIAN SOCIALISTS – Yasemin Shamsili
I will be publicly pledging my support for the issue and continuing to advocate for the policy. Plus, presenting a clear account of why labor’s recent commitment should include preliminary funding guarantee that covers completion of the worlds (at least $280mil).
| Many bus routes in Merri-bek, particularly in the north, have inadequate service levels. Q: What specifically will you be advocating for to ensure that all residents have access to decent bus services? | ||||||
| GREENS Angelica Panopoulos | SOCIALIST ALLIANCE Jacob Andrewartha | VICTORIAN SOCIALISTS Yasemin Shamsili | LABOR Anthony Cianflone | FAMILY FIRST Kathrine Asthon | ONE NATION Andrew Forehan | LIBERALS |
| See response below | See response below | See response below | Response coming | No response | No response | No candidate announce |
GREENS – Angelica Panopoulos
The Greens will give Infrastructure Victoria the power to do our transport planning, instead of basing it on politics. We also want to spend $270 million to progressively reform buses into a fast, frequent grid, across suburban Melbourne, and upgrade local buses in regional Victoria. I deeply understand the poor access to bus services, having grown up in the northern parts of Merri-bek, where my local bus service ended around 7pm on night, didn’t run on Sundays or public holidays, and, often ran at a one hour frequency.
SOCIALIST ALLIANCE – Jacob Andrewartha
If elected I would support and advocate for the demands of grassroots public transport groups demanding extra frequency of bus routes including most recently the Route 534 and Route 508. Socialist Alliance state policy argues that all bus routes within Merri-bek that connect the Eastern and Western suburbs need increased frequency including more weekend and night services. There are some bus routes that don’t even operate on weekends and that needs to change. An ideal standard would be bus routes operating to a 10-minute frequency. As a Pascoe Vale representative I would also not limit myself advocating for the expansion of existing bus routes in the Pascoe Vale electorate and would advocate for increased frequency of all existing bus routes within Merri-bek and within Greater Melbourne.
VICTORIAN SOCIALISTS – Yasemin Shamsili
More frequent buses and expansion of the timetabled hours.
| Q: Have you signed the Better Buses Candidates pledge?(If you haven’t and you want to, it can be done very quickly and easily here: | ||||||
| GREENS Angelica Panopoulos | SOCIALIST ALLIANCE Jacob Andrewartha | VICTORIAN SOCIALISTS Yasemin Shamsili | LABOR Anthony Cianflone | FAMILY FIRST Kathrine Asthon | ONE NATION Andrew Forehan | LIBERALS |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Response coming | No response | No response | No candidate announced |
Active Transport
| As a candidate in the state election for the Pascoe Vale district, do you personally support the provision of 5% of the state transport budget to the development of the Strategic Cycling Network (over and above any existing active transport funding)? | ||||||
| GREENS Angelica Panopoulos | SOCIALIST ALLIANCE Jacob Andrewartha | VICTORIAN SOCIALISTS Yasemin Shamsili | LABOR Anthony Cianflone | FAMILY FIRST Kathrine Asthon | ONE NATION Andrew Forehan | LIBERALS |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Response coming | No response | No response | No candidate announced |
| If you are a member of a political party, has your party endorsed the Gimme 5! Campaign? Victoria spends billions each year on transport infrastructure. Dedicating just 5% to Strategic Cycling Corridors would give everyone more choice on how they get around; to school, work, and the shops. https://gimme5.org/ | ||||||
| GREENS Angelica Panopoulos | SOCIALIST ALLIANCE Jacob Andrewartha | VICTORIAN SOCIALISTS Yasemin Shamsili | LABOR Anthony Cianflone | FAMILY FIRST Kathrine Asthon | ONE NATION Andrew Forehan | LIBERALS |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Response coming | No response | No response | No candidate announced |