G21’s Mayors and CEO headed to Melbourne this week for a whistlestop tour of the Victorian Parliament where they hosted 15 very positive meetings with Ministers and Shadow Ministers over two days.
The catch up included conversations with Deputy Premier Jacinta Allen, Treasurer Tim Pallas, Minister for Water and Regional Development Harriet Shing, Transport Minister Ben Carroll, Tourism Minister Steve Dimopoulos, local MP and member for Polwarth Richard Riordan, Shadow Minister for Local Government, Housing and Resources Peter Walsh (also Leader of The Nationals) and Bill Tilley, Shadow Minister for Regional Cities.
The region’s lack of affordable housing, key workers, public transport and active travel modes were hot topics with our state colleagues. Our mayors painted a detailed picture of the challenges and potential solutions, noting the Commonwealth Games were looming large as a significant deadline.
Although most state MPs are aware of our rapid population growth, most were surprised to hear that Surf Coast is Victoria’s fastest growing municipality (4.4% pa), that Golden Plains has Victoria’s fastest growing cohort of 5 to 11 year olds and Geelong’s new growth areas will soon be adding the equivalent of a city the size of Ballarat to the region.
The Spring St meetings follow a visit to Parliament House in Canberra where our five G21 council CEOs met with new departmental chiefs to outline the region’s needs and our desire to work closely with the new federal government.
G21 Mayors – Spring St delegation 2022
Day 1
- Chief of Staff to Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio, Minister for Solar Homes, Energy, Environment and Climate Action
- Hon. David Davis, Shadow Treasurer, Shadow Minister for Arts and Creative Industries
- Bill Tilley, Shadow Minister for Regional Cities (including Border Communities), Decentralisation, Fishing and Boating
- Hon. Harriet Shing, Minister for Water, Regional Development and Equality
- Cindy McLeish, Shadow Assistant Treasurer, Shadow Minister for Economic Development, Regional Recovery, Government Services, Sport & Tourism
- Dr Matthew Bach, Shadow Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Child Protection and Youth Justice, Youth Affairs
- Hon. Ben Carroll, Minister for Industry Support and Recovery, Business Precincts, Public Transport, Roads and Road Safety
Day 2
- Tim Pallas, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Industrial Relations and Trade
- Hon. Steve Dimopoulos, Minister for Tourism, Sport, Major Events and Creative Industries
- Richard Riordan, Shadow Minister for Local Government, Housing and Resources
- Hon. Peter Walsh, Leader of The Nationals, Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Regional Victoria, Aboriginal Affairs
- Hon. Jacinta Allen, Deputy Premier, Transport Infrastructure, Suburban Rail Loop, Commonwealth Games Delivery
- Hon. Danny Pearson, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Regulatory Reform, Government Services and Housing
- Hon. Melissa Horne, Minister for Ports and Freight, Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Local Government and Suburban Development
- Danny O’Brien, Shadow Minister for Water, Public Transport and Roads
Who went?
Mayor Peter Murrihy of City of Greater Geelong
Mayor Libby Stapleton of Surf Coast Shire,
Mayor Gavin Gamble of Golden Plains Shire,
Mayor Kate Hanson of Colac Otway Shire,
Mayor Ross Ebbels, Borough of Queenscliffe
G21 CEO Giulia Baggio.
