Advocacy on Local Issues

Council is a strong advocate for its community, whether it involves lobbying a State or Federal government or presenting a compelling case at a planning hearing.

Recent

• Speaking up for Kinder Families - Council will lobby State and Federal Members of Parliament and write to the Prime Minister and Senior Ministers to urge that Federal Government funding for five hours of kindergarten continue beyond December 2019. 
• Raise Your Hand for Monash Youth - Monash youth speaking out about the future young people could have if they receive the mental health support they need, and how the issues young people face impacts on them every day. 
• Consulting with the LGBTIQ community to determine the priorities, programs and/or activities that Council could progress - Connecting with LGBTIQ community
• A campaign to foster stronger connections between residents within local Monash neighbourhoods and to positively impact residents' perceptions of their own safety and their safety within Monash - Meet Your Street campaign
• Advocating for State Government funding to further improve the Oakleigh Station Precinct

Some other issues we've taken up over the past few years

• Seeking to work with City of Melbourne to address an increase in homeless people in Monash
• Advocating for the best possible outcomes for the local community in relation to the State Government's $1.6 billion elevated rail project
• Calling for a statewide ban on smoking in outdoor dining areas. About 75% of surveyed Monash residents have said they support this ban. Council is pleased that the Victorian Government has announced a ban will be introduced.
• Supporting Waverley Park residents against developer Mirvac's push to keep high voltage powerlines overhead
• Joining residents in arguing against overdevelopment at two former school sites in Oakleigh South 
• Supporting the Waverley Gymnastics Club in securing funding for a redevelopment of their facility, as part of an expansion of the Oakleigh Recreaton Centre
• Advocating for Federal funding for a headspace centre in Monash
• Lobbying alongside Monash University for an upgrade at Huntingdale train station
• Joining with other councils and welfare organisations to advocate for reforms to regulations concerning poker machines. Council is concerned about the impact gambling has on the most vulnerable members of our community.
• Endorsing the  City of Monash Public Health Approach to Gambling Policy Statement 2016-2020, featuring nine policy statements to guide Council decision making across the organisation in regard to gambling
• Advocating for the Australian Government to continue funding so that all four-year-olds can attend 15 hours of kindergarten per week. In September 2014, the government announced funding would be continued in the 2015 calendar year
• Opposing the Australian Government's proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act. The changes would have removed provisions that make it unlawful to publicly "offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate" a person because of their race, colour or national or ethnic origin. In 2014, the government withdrew the proposed changes due to community opposition.