By Cr Antoinette (Tony) Briffa
It’s an incredible honour to be elected mayor in the place you were born and raised and where the community means so much to you.
This is my second term as mayor.
It comes at a time when there’s so much to look forward to in Hobsons Bay following a couple of years in which we all had to deal with the challenges of a global pandemic.
I’m excited about outlining my mayoral agenda over the next few weeks.
It’s a chance to shine a light on some of the issues that mean so much to me and where I think we can make a positive difference in the community.
As a council, we need to continue supporting our local businesses and community groups, and improving our environment, including our foreshore.
The past couple of years have also emphasised the importance of making sure our most vulnerable residents and young families have access to our services.
It’s crucial we keep everyone in our community connected.
Social justice issues are important to me.
As mayor, I’ll continue to advocate for LGBTIQ+, multicultural and multi-faith issues, gender equality and the fight against family violence.
I am committed to championing council’s commitment to the prevention of violence against women through our advocacy and awareness raising.
On this front, this Friday marks the start of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which raises awareness about violence against women and its impact on physical, psychological, social wellbeing and economic security.
Keep an eye out for further information about this important global campaign.
Right now, we’re approaching the conclusion of the Victorian election campaign and we’ve had some strong commitments to our advocacy priorities from the major parties and a range of candidates.
Whoever wins this Saturday, I look forward to working with them to bring these priorities to fruition.
Of course, advocating for Hobsons Bay isn’t something we do only during elections.
We must work continually with the other two levels of government on behalf of our community.
I look forward to keeping you informed of our progress in all these areas and more over the next 12 months.
