The Victorian Greens are setting their sights on increasing their presence in the west by announcing local candidates in the region’s 10 Lower House seats at next month’s state election.
Victorian Greens leader and Northern Metropolitan MP Samantha Ratnam officially launched the party’s “westside campaign” on Saturday, October 15 and said the Greens were committed to standing up for the west.
“The federal election saw more Victorians vote Greens than ever before,” she said.
“This is because they were tired of the major parties taking them for granted and wanted stronger action on issues like climate change, housing affordability and integrity in our politics.
“We’re hoping to build on the momentum of that ‘Greenslide’ and elect more Greens in the Victorian Parliament this November.”
The Greens currently hold three inner-city seats in the lower house and Ms Ratnam’s seat in the upper house which takes in the west.
Ms Ratnam said the candidates were long-time locals who would help advocate for change.
The Greens candidates running for 10 lower house seats in the west are Ben Chester (Kororoit), Braishna Durzada (Laverton), Clare Miller (Tarneit), Declan McGinness (Niddrie), Elena Pereyra (Footscray), Jack Boddeke (Werribee), Joel Bentley (St Albans), Maggie Ralph (Sydenham), Shamsher Khan (Point Cook) and Suzette Rodoreda (Williamstown), while Bernadette Thomas is the lead candidate for the Western Metropolitan region.
Dora Houpis
