Hi, here are my latest updates from Parliament and around the Brunswick electorate (Brunswick, Brunswick East, Brunswick West, Fitzroy North, Princes Hill & Carlton North).
In this month’s newsletter:
- Southern Blast film screening
- Solidarity with student protesters
- NAIDOC Week
- Empty homes in Brunswick East
Missed last month’s newsletter? You can find it here if you’d like to read about solar for apartments, accessible tram stops, what was in the budget for Brunswick, and more.
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Southern Blast Film Screening
Last week I hosted a film screening of Southern Blast, a documentary explaining the damage done by gas and oil exploration in Bass Strait. We were joined at Black Spark gallery by climate activists Darren Noyes-Brown (Surfrider Foundation), Greta Carroll (OCEAN) and Samantha Ratnam, who spoke about their campaign to stop new fossil fuel projects and seismic blasting in our southern ocean.
Seismic blasting is the first step in developing offshore fossil fuel projects. It maps the sea floor through powerful blasts of air which risk deafening whales and killing zooplankton – it spells disaster for our marine life. The science is clear:, we need to be getting off gas, not endangering our oceans and marine life by opening new areas for exploration.
The Victorian Government has recently approved new gas drilling in Victoria’s oceans, right near the Twelve Apostles. And now the Federal Government is on the brink of approving seismic blasting in the Otway Basin. If this project proceeds, it will be years, even decades, until the gas comes online. We need to be investing in renewable energy sources, not mining the fragile and biodiverse Southern Ocean for unnecessary fossil fuels.
Thanks to all who came to our film screening and stuck around to chat with myself and the other panellists. Our conversations made it clear that protecting the ocean and our precious marine life is important to Brunswick residents. I will keep fighting to stop new fossil fuels in parliament, and if you want to get involved in the campaign to stop seismic blasting you can sign up on my website here or join one of the non-partisan organisations campaigning to save our ocean.
OCEAN (Otway Climate Emergency Action Network)
SOPEC (Southern Otway Protection Embassy)
ICYMI: 1 in 8 Brunswick East homes are empty or underused
A shocking report released over the weekend shows that property investors have kept almost 100,000 properties across Melbourne empty while many struggle to find a place to live.
The study by Prosper Australia analysed water usage to find 97,861 dwellings, or 5.2% of our housing stock, were left totally empty or barely used over 2023.
That’s enough to house everyone on the public housing waiting list in Victoria.
In Brunswick East over 1,000 of the suburb’s 8,020 properties were empty or barely-used in 2023, which is the highest proportion in Melbourne.
I can’t tell you how frustrating it is to know that thousands and thousands of homes are sitting empty in the middle of a housing crisis.
Every week I speak to people experiencing, or nearing homelessness who are on the public housing wait list, hoping for a home to become available. Or a renter who is skipping meals and medical expenses because the tight market is pricing them out.
We shouldn’t have homes sitting empty during a housing crisis.
I shared more information on my Instagram, including what the Greens are doing to fix it. Watch the video here.
NAIDOC Week
Last week Gabrielle de Vietri and I joined thousands at the NAIDOC week rally, marching from the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service in Fitzroy, through the CBD.
This year’s theme was ‘Keep the fire burning! Blak, Loud and Proud’. It celebrates Indigenous identity, empowering First Nations peoples to stand tall in their heritage and assert their place in the modern world.
The fire represents the enduring strength of Indigenous cultures, passed down through generations despite the challenges faced. It is a symbol of connection to the land, to each other, and to the rich traditions that define First Nations peoples.
We can listen, learn, and engage in meaningful conversations, fostering a society where the wisdom and contributions of First Nations peoples are fully valued.
Through our collective efforts, we can forge a future where the stories, traditions, and achievements of First Nations communities are celebrated and enrich the nation with the oldest living culture in the world.
Solidarity with student protesters
Twenty-one student protesters at the University of Melbourne are facing disciplinary action for their involvement in the Gaza solidarity encampment and occupation of Mahmoud’s Hall.
I’m concerned about the heavy-handed surveillance techniques the university used to track and identify students involved in these peaceful demonstrations. Students were sent CCTV footage of themselves at the protests along with wifi login data that was used to track their movements on campus.
This follows a crackdown on the right to protest across Australia, including ramping up penalties for environmental activists in five states and territories.
I joined students as they marched across campus in solidarity with those facing suspension and expulsion. I will be watching to see how the disciplinary proceedings play out over the coming months.
You can watch my video from the rally to learn more.
New vaping laws taking effect
I’ve been hearing from constituents who have questions about the new federal vaping legislation that came into effect on the 1st of July. I have made a video explaining the policy and the Greens’ decision to support it with our amendments, which you can watch here. This policy is a world first, so we have secured a review built into the legislation, and will continue to monitor this issue as it evolves. .
If you have any questions or concerns about the federal vaping policy, you can contact my office using the details below.
What’s on in the neighbourhood
If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you may have noticed that I regularly post events and opportunities that are happening in the Brunswick area. Here’s my most recent post where you can find out about events and opportunities like the Drag Queen Disco Formal, Bush Tucker with Aunty Jo, Yarra & Merri-bek Libraries school holiday programs, and more. And you can always email me to suggest other events and opportunities you’d like me to share.
Thanks for getting this far! Remember, if there’s anything you want to raise with me, you can always get in touch with my office on [email protected] or (03) 9384 1241.
Until next time,
Tim
