Candidates meet with north-west city locals

The Kensington Association and the North West Melbourne Association (NWMA) saw a strong turnout to their joint meet the candidates event for the Victorian seat of Melbourne at Kensington Town Hall on October 27. 

The two major residents’ groups of the city’s inner north-west suburbs of North and West Melbourne and Kensington combined for the one event, giving locals the opportunity to meet their candidates ahead of the November 26 Victorian Election. 

The meeting saw lower house candidates Ellen Sandell (Greens), Rebecca Thistleton (Labor), Rabin Bangaar (Animal Justice) and Colleen Bolger (Victorian Socialists) attend, while upper house candidates Reason Party leader Fiona Patten, Socialists Jerome Small and Liberal Democrat Paul Silverberg also appeared. 

The Liberal Party’s lower house candidate, George Palackalody, was not in attendance. Neither was the Reason Party candidate Nicola Foxworthy, however, she was represented by Ms Patten on the night. 

Moderated by Kensington Association chair Simon Harvey, the meeting heard a range of issues raised by locals and addressed by candidates, including local planning matters, climate change and renewable energy and housing affordability among many others. 

Locals can vote from at a range of locations in the area on election day, including North Melbourne Primary School, St Joseph’s Flexible Learning Centre, North Melbourne Community Centre, Kensington Primary School or Holy Rosary School. •

For more information: vec.vic.gov.au

Caption: Rebecca Thistleton (Labor) and Fiona Patten (Reason).