This week, the City of Melbourne election results were declared. We congratulate Lord Mayor-elect Sally Capp and Deputy Lord Mayor-elect Nicholas Reece, and Councillors Kevin Louey, Jason Chang, Davydd Griffiths, Roshena Campbell, Philip Le Liu, Jamal Hakim and Elizabeth Doidge. We commit to working with the new Council towards a more affordable, sustainable and equitable city.We are delighted to re-elect two Greens councillors, returning Councillor Rohan Leppert and new Councillor Dr Olivia Ball, replacing retiring Councillor Dr Cathy Oke.
Despite the lockdown and its disproportionate impact on those campaigns that rely on grassroots organising over expensive direct mail, and despite the Labor party running in 2020 for the first time with a specific mission to reduce the Greens’ influence on Council, our vote has held remarkably well. Thanks to your support, The Greens came second on primary votes in both the Leadership and Councillor ballots. Alongside the Sally Capp team, we are the only team with two councillors elected on the Councillor ballot.
Across Greater Melbourne and Victoria the Victorian Greens have just had our most successful local elections ever: we have elected 36 councillors, including a majority bloc of 5 in the neighbouring City of Yarra and new councillors in areas where we have never elected Greens before, such as Manningham, Nillumbik, Greater Shepparton and Golden Plains Councils.
None of this is possible without the astonishing support of our supporters. Here in the City of Melbourne, our indefatigable volunteers made 7,082 phone calls and SMSes to voters. You letterboxed 100,000 leaflets. You hosted 160 placards. You filled 506 shifts. And you made 154 donations with a median of $50. This is why we did so well – thank you!
The fearless leaders of our campaign are Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor candidates Apsara Sabaratnam and Roxane Ingleton. Apsara changed the debate on affordable housing, new parks and fair revenue, and the quality of the campaign was far improved thanks to her presence. Apsara and Roxi came second on primary votes and we are immensely proud of their leadership.
Joining Rohan and Olivia, our Councillor candidates team are Emily Corcoran, David Jeffery, Nakita Thomson and Charlotte George. Together we changed the debate on public housing access and rights, transport planning and open space in high density areas. Campaigning as a team in lockdown is tough, but we were a great team, and working together for a common cause for a fairer, more affordable and sustainable city has been rewarding and empowering.
Our policy platform for the campaign was unapologetically ambitious and detailed. We will leave it published on this website for the duration of this term of Council (just as we have for previous policy platforms since 2000) so that the voters of Melbourne can hold us to account.
The campaign for a more affordable, sustainable and equitable Melbourne doesn’t stop with an election. Join us!
