Voices for Melbourne independent community-focussed residents standing for Melbourne Council

Our Candidates

Greg BISINELLA

Megan STEVENSON

Greg, President of the East Melbourne Group, long term resident and local business owner, is running for Lord Mayor to drive positive change. With deep community ties, Greg has successfully led efforts to protect Melbourne's heritage and improve livability. His dedication to preserving the city's character and fostering progress makes him an ideal candidate to lead Melbourne into the future.

about Greg

Megan STEVENSON

Meg, a seasoned advocate and community leader, is running for Deputy Lord Mayor to bring fresh energy and effective leadership to Melbourne. She has a proven track record of building strong, connected communities. Her passion for Carlton and commitment to accountability and transparency make her the ideal choice to guide Melbourne toward a more inclusive and thriving future.

about Meg

Mary MASTERS

James VASILEV-ROBERTSON

Mary, a passionate community activist and advocate, is driven to bring real change to the City of Melbourne. With a background in grassroots advocacy and a record of effective local engagement, Mary is dedicated to improving governance and making a difference. Mary and her family are long-time West Melbourne residents; with two children at Docklands Primary, Mary understands urban family living.

about Mary

James VASILEV-ROBERTSON

James, a passionate, next-generation leader, is focussed on reimagining Melbourne through people-first policies. With a background working in education, technology, and social impact, James champions inclusivity and supports marginalised communities. A lifelong inner-city resident, he advocates for vibrant public spaces and strong community connections.

About James

Response to media questions

What is your position on the redevelopment of Melbourne’s public housing towers?

Voices for Melbourne opposes the Victorian Government's plan to redevelop inner Melbourne’s public housing towers. These residents’ rights must be supported by Melbourne City Council, and a thorough assessment should determine if the buildings can be retrofitted instead of demolished. The process must be consultative and respect residents' rights. While redevelopment may be welcome, there’s been no transparency, and the state’s financial troubles raise concerns. The fear is that towers will be demolished with no plans to rebuild, leaving land for developers who won’t provide affordable housing - or will provide mandated minimus in return for permission to overdevelop the sites. Retrofitting would be more cost-effective and allow residents to stay in their communities. Public housing residents need full support to protect their rights.

What is your position on revitalising the central city, encouraging the return of office workers, shoppers and tourists?

Voices for Melbourne, proposes a bold plan to pedestrianise the city centre, revitalising it for shoppers, office workers, and tourists. With the upcoming Metro Tunnel opening, which will improve access to central Melbourne, Voices for Melbourne are campaigning to extend the Bourke Street Mall to Russell Street, enhancing walkability and encouraging outdoor dining by offering free footpath use to businesses. Additionally, the plan includes slowing trams on Swanston Street to 5kph to reduce congestion and improve pedestrian safety, and extending the Elizabeth Street tramline to Flinders Street for better access and street safety of this congested area.

What is your position on the current structure of the council and the election system?

The current structure and electoral provisions of the City of Melbourne Act are undemocratic and result in a gerrymander in favour of big business and non-resident property owners. We will always support residents and local business. On Council we will push for a review by the State Government of those provisions. We will doggedly advocate for the return of Wards to the municipality.

What is your position on bike lanes in the CBD?

Bike lanes are multifunctional; they cater for cycling, food deliveries, skateboarding and e-scooters. They are for micro-mobility options and provide a safe pathway by separating these forms of mobility from roads and cars and footpaths and pedestrians.

What is your position on the QVM redevelopment?

The redevelopment of the Queen Victoria Market has been handled poorly by past councils. Voices for Melbourne believes that reform of the current board of Queen Victoria Market Pty. Ltd is a number one priority. The board must include directors with experience in managing markets and ensure that both traders and consumers are properly represented. We would also relocate the administration from its current high-rise office back to a location within or close to the market to strengthen ties with the market community.

We are alarmed that the Melbourne City Council is still relying on a 2015 plan for such an essential asset, which is now outdated given recent changes in the city. We would initiate a process for a completely new plan, one that includes comprehensive public consultation and transparency. The reformed board should be at the forefront of this effort.

Protecting the market's role in Melbourne's food securityis a top priority. During the pandemic, while major food retailers faced supply chain issues, the market’s traders were able to maintain supply thanks to their direct relationships with producers. We will work to safeguard this vital function and advocate for more and larger markets across Melbourne as opposed to further expansion of corporate chains like Woolworths and Coles.

Lastly, while the Lendlease development on Franklin Street remains in legal limbo, we will focus on representing the voices of QVM – the traders, broader community and international students, not developers or political parties. This is essential to protecting the market’s character and ensuring it serves the people of Melbourne.

What is your position on donations and real-time declarations?

Donations and pledges to candidates vying for election need to be declared, within five working days, and not 40 days after the election result. Candidates should not take donations from developers as this creates a clear conflict of interest if elected to council. Any candidates not currently declaring their donations should be questioned as to why. There should also be public scrutiny on what kinds of ‘in-kind’ deals have been made, other than just the undisclosed cash donations.

What is your position on housing?

Voices for Melbourne will advocate to State and Federal governments on the need for more and better social and affordable housing in our city. Council must contribute resources to the housing needs of vulnerable people. Residents living in public housing should have the right to be involved in decisions impacting on their homes.

How will your group address the Cost of living?

Council can address cost of living pressures by ensuring that rates are spent in support of the most vulnerable and needy in our community whilst ensuring residents and business get real value from council services.

What are your approaches to crime and safety?

Council must work with the Victoria Police to ensure safety and security of residents and their homes across the City is a priority. Police presence in our residential areas is needed along with patrols for local business.

Who is backing your campaign?

Voices for Melbourne is running a campagn fully self-funded by its candidates. We are all professionals working day jobs and campaigining outside of our work and life commitments. We have spent more than originally intended, but we believe that advocating for better community outcomes is a worthy investment. We are competing with candidates who willingly take hundreds of thousands of dollars from their donors and - if elected - will be beholden to these benefactors. Money doesn't come for free.

Better than just disclosing to voters where our donations have come from, we are taking transparency to the next level and letting you know EXACTLY where our money is going! Please see voices4melbourne.com.au/declarations

Our campaign is also 'backed' by other community advocates who advise us on every decision we make: from the formation of our team under the 'Voices for Melbourne' banner, through to developing all of our policy positions, to our preference negotiation dealings, and all responses to media enquiries - we don't act alone! We are actually a large group of 'voices' and we WELCOME anyone who shares our priorities and would like to get involved. Please reach out to us.

VOICES FOR MELBOURNE

What we stand for

Our Candidates

Greg BISINELLA

Megan STEVENSON

Megan STEVENSON

Megan STEVENSON

Megan STEVENSON

Megan STEVENSON

Mary MASTERS

James VASILEV-ROBERTSON

James VASILEV-ROBERTSON

James VASILEV-ROBERTSON

James VASILEV-ROBERTSON

James VASILEV-ROBERTSON

Response to media questions

Contact Us

Voices for Melbourne

Drop us a line!

VOICES FOR MELBOURNE

What we stand for

Our Candidates

Greg BISINELLA

Megan STEVENSON

Megan STEVENSON

Megan STEVENSON

Megan STEVENSON

Megan STEVENSON

Mary MASTERS

James VASILEV-ROBERTSON

James VASILEV-ROBERTSON

James VASILEV-ROBERTSON

James VASILEV-ROBERTSON

James VASILEV-ROBERTSON

Response to media questions

Contact Us

Voices for Melbourne

Drop us a line!

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