Victorian State Election 2026 | Legislative Council (Upper House)
Victorian Socialists candidate
North-Eastern Metropolitan Region
Legislative Council
Photo: Supplied
1. Tell us about yourself.
I’m a full-time IT professional, a renter, and a dedicated community activist. My passion for social justice and community organizing comes from my mother, who was a proud union delegate for the CPSU (federal public service). Some of my most formative political experiences were attending union marches with her. She raised me on those fundamental union principles of solidarity, equality, and collective action, values the ALP and major parties seem to have long forgotten.
Sadly, she passed away from Motor Neurone Disease (MND) earlier this year. Her battle reinforced my belief that the elderly, the ill, and the disabled deserve so much better from our system. I’ve always believed that when we band together, we’re stronger. I ran for Banyule Council in 2024, and recently, I led the grassroots community campaign to save the Olympic Village swimming pool in West Heidelberg from closure. I have also been heavily involved in local organizing in opposition to Israel's slaughter in Gaza.
2. What is your connection to the local community?
I have lived in Heidelberg Heights for most of my life. As a lifelong resident of the area, my connection to the broader region, including Manningham, is rooted in the shared struggles of our communities. Whether it's fighting for local amenities like swimming pools and childcare centres, dealing with the housing crisis, or relying on our public transport networks, the issues facing residents in Banyule and Manningham are deeply intertwined. I am passionate about ensuring the entire North-East gets the support, services, and infrastructure it deserves.
3. Why are you standing for election?
I’m standing because everyday people are being left behind in a wealthy state. Across Victoria, we are grappling with a severe cost-of-living crisis. Like many renters across our city, I find it hard to get ahead, even on a full-time professional wage. Rents keep going up, houses are impossible to afford, and grocery prices are ridiculous. Simply living shouldn't have a cost.
While things are getting harder for many, the public services and facilities we rely on for a healthy, rewarding life are being privatised, underfunded, or closed down. I want to bring back publicly run services, including putting gas and electricity back under government control, making power bills cheaper for everyone.
4. What do you consider the three most pressing issues facing the communities you hope to represent? How would you address these issues if elected?
The Housing and Cost-of-Living Crisis: Rents are out of control and homeownership is a pipedream for many. We need to implement strict rent caps and massively invest in high-quality public housing, rather than treating housing purely as a profit-making vehicle for investors.
Taking the Profit Motive Out of Human Services: Watching my mum battle MND highlighted how badly our care systems need reform. We must significantly increase funding for aged care, disability support, and health services. Care should be dictated by human need, not by what generates a return for private operators.
Protecting Public Assets: The attempted closure of local pools is just one example of essential facilities being neglected. I will fight to fully fund our public services, community facilities, and green spaces, keeping them in public hands so they remain accessible to everyone.
5. What specific actions would you take to improve the everyday lives of residents, particularly those in Manningham?
If elected, I will advocate for immediate cost-of-living relief, starting with capping rent increases and ending public transport fares. For Manningham specifically, an area heavily reliant on roads and buses, I will push for major upgrades to our public transport infrastructure to ensure frequent, reliable, and accessible bus networks. I will also stand with essential workers across our region in their campaigns for better wages and conditions. Those doing essential work should be paid essential wages. Finally, I’d like to see an end to tolls on East Link, City Link and the soon to be finished North-East Link.
6. Why should voters elect you?
You should elect me because I am not a career politician. I am a local renter, worker, and activist who understands firsthand what our communities are going through. I will bring the fight of the community straight into Parliament. I’ll fight for a brighter, peaceful future and a state government that confronts the issues of our time, including acting on climate-change and opposing AI data-centres. By voting for me and the Victorian Socialists, you are voting for a representative who will unapologetically stand with workers, renters, and the vulnerable to put people before profit.
Editor's note: The responses are provided by the candidates and reflect their own views. Publication does not constitute an endorsement by Manningham Life.
