Category: Local News

Despite the financial difficulties many businesses are experiencing due to the pandemic, the Hobsons Bay City Council is determined to push ahead with its planned rate increase.  The proposed average rate increase across Hobsons Bay is 2%, but it is 3.89% for commercial properties (e.g. shops, cafes and other small businesses) and 8.78% for Industrial…

I support the retention and upgrade of the existing kindergartens in Altona and Seaholme.  They are wonderful kindergartens that serve our community well and are much loved by many of us.  Sadly, council has previously resolved to build an “Early Years Hub” in Altona and to make it viable they closed the Altona West Kindergarten…

As a Councillor, Deputy Mayor and Mayor, my main focus was to give the community a voice and to provide leadership to the council and community.  I often spoke about integrity, values, openness and transparency, but rather than just speak about them, I made sure I walked the walk. As a Councillor it is important…

As a Councillor I was very active in the local community to ensure I was able to represent and advocate for the community as well-informed as possible.  The following is a list of some of my activities in a 11 month period on council (not including Council meetings, briefings, meetings with Council’s CEO and Directors,…

Last November the council made an unfortunate decision while I was overseas.  It decided in a meeting closed to the public and without any community consultation to outsource the management of the two council-run childcare centres in Hobsons Bay (Altona Meadows and Altona North).  Council management also failed to consult with staff.  Incredibly, this motion…

Lots of local events in Melbourne’s West this summer! Melbourne’s west is the place to be this summer, so no matter where you live be sure to come and enjoy the events the local councils are supporting! Movies by the Bay – Altona and Williamstown (every Friday in January 2014) Free Dog’s Breakfast (Saturday 4…

I am pleased to announce Manja and I were married in Dunedin, New Zealand on 27 September 2013.  Sadly we were unable to marry in Australia as the law here requires marriage to be “between a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others”.  It is difficult for someone born both male and…

The National Institute for Challenging Homophobia Education (NICHE) recently created a wonderful animation about my life as an intersex person as part of their “Your Story” campaign.  They have previously made animations for gay, lesbian and transgender stories. To see the animation, click here: – Tony Briffa’s experiences as an intersex person Thank you to Daniel Witthaus,…

The Altona Beach Festival will not be run next year as a result of a decision made by the council last night (moved by Cr Peter Hemphill and seconded by Cr Sandra Wilson). I would have been happy for the council to fully organise and resource the festival, but I was the only councillor to…

The council meeting tonight was held at the South Kingsville Community Centre.  Some of the local issues I raised and/or were considered included: – Altona Beach cleaning and use of the collected seaweed; – Air quality issues in Brooklyn (and getting the Department of Health to get actively involved in resolving the issues there); –…

PLEASE HELP OPPOSE THE TOXIC SOIL FACILITY IN ALTONA Despite significant community and council concerns about plans for a permanent toxic soil facility in Altona, VCAT approved the facility last week with the full support of the EPA.  When built, this facility will truck in contaminated soil from around Victoria into Altona for treatment.  Our area…