I've been preselected as The Greens candidate for the seat of Footscray at the state election in November this year. And I'm campaigning to win!
Here's the media release that's been issued today
Janet Rice to run for Footscray
Former Maribyrnong Mayor and Councillor Janet Rice will be the Greens candidate for the seat of Footscray* at the state election in November this year. And she is campaigning to win.‘I’m campaigning on the issues that people know I am passionate about – smarter, greener transport, making Footscray and Sunshine places where people want to live, shop and work, helping people to live green, and above all really listening to, caring about and acting on what the community want. ”
‘Footscray has always been considered a safe Labor seat and people have felt frustrated by that, feeling their community was ignored because Labor always won.”
‘Well not any more. The Greens vote is rising and Labor’s vote in Footscray has decreased dramatically from 67% to 52% over the last three elections, and this year seems certain to fall further.”
‘Colleen Hartland’s hard work as our Upper House MP is a great explanation as to why our vote is rising in the West.
‘People know from my work on Council that I really care about our community, and that I have a track record of working hard in support of local people, our environment, and our future.
‘My difference is that I really do care about this community. It’s my home. I love its diversity and its friendly down to earth people.
‘The inner west has huge potential and promise. I have been a community activist for 20 years and I loved working to achieve this potential when I was on Council.
The local community are incensed over many issues: transport failures, not enough police, not being listened to in planning issues, too many poker machines, and being taken for granted by the ALP who are seemingly more focused on branch stacking and their own careers than the community’s needs.”
“Transport has always been a key issue for me. From the big picture, right down to details like the need for escalators at Footscray station.
The Westlink tunnel and freeway/ tollway would be a disaster for our community, destroying homes, and increasing rather than decreasing the amount of traffic through our streets. I am the only candidate for Footscray so far who opposes Westlink. And it’s not just words; I have been campaigning in the community for alternatives to Westlink for years.
I want the community to have a real say in transport projects that affect them instead of being kept in the dark by the Government.
If I am elected to parliament, I will campaign strongly for the $5 billion cost of Westlink to be spent on major public transport projects, the rail based freight transport hubs and getting trucks off our streets.
I support the sustainable redevelopment of central Footscray, keeping our heritage buildings and adding to them largely with 3-6 storey buildings, a small number of sites up to 15 storeys and retaining community involvement in planning decisions.
This is in stark contrast to the Government’s plans for 25 story towers, large expanses of buildings more than 10 storeys, including next to residential areas, and removing the rights of residents to appeal against development next door to them by rezoning their neighbourhood as a ‘comprehensive development zone’
Central Sunshine is even more of a mess. It’s got so much potential, yet has been totally neglected for decades.
* The state seat of Footscray includes Footscray, central Sunshine, West Footscray, Braybrook, Maidstone, Maribyrnong, Seddon, Kingsville and parts of Yarraville.
Janet was a Maribyrnong Councillor between 2003 and 2008, and was Mayor in 2006. Janet was Chair of the Metropolitan Transport Forum for 4 years, and Vice President of the Victorian Local Governance Association.
In 2007 Janet was the Greens candidate at the Williamstown by-election and gained 22% of the vote.
She has worked as a facilitator and as a strategic planning consultant for community organisations for the last decade. She is currently working part-time with Colleen Hartland on community liaison and advocacy work.
Janet lives in Footscray with her partner and two teenage sons.
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