Over the 4 years former Liberal Candidate Daria Kellander has been on the Council, she has repeatedly voted against capital works budgets that included the following community infrastructure: PA Burns Reserve Dog Park and beach – public toilet, entry improvement works, upgrade Dog off leash area, sand retention and beach access. Altona and Seaholme Foreshore improvements – upgrades to seawalls, shared paths, access ramps, drainage, amenity & public toilets. Pier St upgrade works including full … Continue reading →

Daria Kellander claims to be an independent candidate for Altona Ward in the Hobsons Bay City Council elections in October 2024, but is she really an independent? Is she being supported by developers? Two years ago Kellander was the Liberal Candidate for Williamstown – as you can see from her campaign images below. She associates with the extreme right wing of the Liberal Party, including disgraced former Liberal MP Moira Deeming, and some of her … Continue reading →

Arbiter Simon Heath, a former IBAC Deputy Commissioner, was appointed by the Victorian Principal Council Conduct Registrar to hear two complaints lodged by Cr Briffa against Cr Peter Hemphill alleging that he breached 3 of the Councillor Standards of Conduct. The arbitration process resulted in findings of misconduct against Cr Hemphill for breaches of clauses 1,3 and 4 of the Councillor Standards of Conduct. The Arbiter subsequently directed that Cr Hemphill:  Make written apologies to … Continue reading →

As a public official it is sometimes difficult to disclose everything being done behind the scenes for the community. There’s a lot of politics involved, rules and laws regarding privacy, confidentiality, planning, Councillor conduct and more. This means that sometimes issues come up where I work behind the scenes to respond and resolve issues for residents, local businesses and groups, but can’t always share everything I do. One such example is in relation to the … Continue reading →

I would like to share with you my decision that has been in the making for 12 months. I will not be seeking election to the Hobsons Bay City Council for a fifth term. My time as a Councillor will therefore end on 26 October 2024. This decision comes after considerable reflection on my career, family and future. I have been involved in local council issues and advocacy for 23+ years. Prior to being elected … Continue reading →

In October 2023 I lodged an application to the Principal Councillor Conduct Registrar seeking that Cr Daria Kellander be found to have breached the Councillor Standards of Conduct in relation to several matters including in respect to inappropriate and inaccurate comments she made in an email and Facebook about me. The Arbiter determined Cr Kellander’s conduct in relation to one of the three allegations was a breach of the relevant Standards and therefore made a finding … Continue reading →

It’s been an honour serving as Mayor of the City of Hobsons Bay for another term.  As the level of government closest to the community, I love supporting families, community groups, businesses, schools, elderly and disabled people, young people, multicultural and faith communities, indigenous people and LGBTIQA+ people.  While it is disappointing local government has become the target of conspiracy theorists, people against trans, non-binary and intersex people, and people attacking councils for their self … Continue reading →

Much has been published and said by councillors and some vocal supporters in recent weeks about the council’s decision to support weekly general rubbish collection. The councillors that put up the motion to rescind the council’s decision to restore weekly general rubbish collection included many unsupported and blatantly incorrect statements in their motion, so the remaining councillors put together the below document to correct the facts. Please download the following document below, noting it was … Continue reading →

During the Council Meeting held on 20 April 2021 I formally voted against the proposed increase to residential rates, which is consistent with my voting against the rate increase last year. Given the hardship many residents, businesses and community groups are experiencing during the pandemic, I cannot in good conscience support a rate hike. I am firmly of the view now is the time we should be supporting families and individuals, not increasing rates, fees … Continue reading →

The Hobsons Bay City Council is undertaking a review into the current waste services system, so as a local Councillor I’m keen to hear from residents about your experiences and perspective.  I’ve therefore put together an online survey and encourage as many residents as possible to complete it.  The link for the survey is: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DKVDZ9C I would also appreciate if you can forward / share this link with other residents in Hobsons Bay and via … Continue reading →

Our Pier is a much-love community asset and is owned and managed by Parks Victoria.  As part of their renewal program for piers, the Altona Pier is going to be replaced in the coming years.  Following community consultation in 2020, Parks Victoria have announced the new pier will be made of concrete (not like the existing wooden pier) and will have an angled end. The report from Parks Victoria describes the new Altona Pier as … Continue reading →

Thank you!!! I am very honoured and grateful to have been elected to represent and serve my community on the Hobsons Bay City Council for a 4th term. Thank you to the local community and especially my fellow residents of Altona, Altona Meadows, Altona North, Brooklyn and Seaholme for your amazing support. I was honestly humbled by the huge result and promise I will not let you down. I love our community. Thank you to … Continue reading →

As an Independent Councillor focused on representing the community and supporting them during this very challenging pandemic, I am disappointed the 2020-21 council budget provides a rate increase that, while not applied immediately, will be applied at a later date. I support the Capital Works Program 2020-21, but cannot support the rate rise.  I do not support an apparent “rate freeze” in 2020 only to potentially hit residents, community groups and businesses with a double rate increase … Continue reading →

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 properties.  Rates for petrochemical properties is proposed to increase by 1.14%. Local shops, cafes and other small businesses and local … Continue reading →

The decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to discriminate against Caster Semenya by claiming it is necessary is extremely disappointing.  Caster Semenya is a strong, healthy, athletic, black woman.  She was born a girl, was raised a girl, is not taking any performance enhancements.  She is not a cheat. Ms Semenya is being discriminated against because she has naturally high testosterone levels.  Forcing her to undergo medical intervention to allow her to compete … Continue reading →

Happy International Women’s Day to all women; women of colour, lesbian women, intersex women, bisexual women, straight women, trans women, mothers, women that couldn’t have children for whatever reason, disabled women, indigenous women, women of all ages, and any other women. We have come a long way in recent years but there is so much yet to do. Today I think we should celebrate our accomplishments and diversity, while also reflecting on the huge work … Continue reading →

At the Hobsons Bay City Council Meeting scheduled for 7pm, Tuesday 19 February 2019, the council will consider an item closed to the public in relation to Community Care services in Hobsons Bay, and in particular, in-home support services.  I have received many calls and emails about this in recent weeks, so in the interests of openness and transparency I thought I would write about this on my website to clarify my position. The Local … Continue reading →

Tony Briffa: “The Hippocratic Oath, Western Medicine, and the Children of Hermes and Aphrodite” Tony Briffa has written on being intersex and Maltese Australian in the book Living and Loving in Diversity: An anthology of Australian multicultural queer adventures (chief editor Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli, Wakefield Press). The book was launched at the 2018 Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council conference, “Living Loving Diversity”, and an edited extract has been published by Archer Magazine. “I am proud of my Maltese heritage; … Continue reading →

My experience as the world’s first openly intersex Mayor When I was 30, I appeared on a national TV program in Austalia, 60 Minutes, outing myself as an intersex person. I never imagined what the years ahead of me had in store. There was one thing that became obvious fairly quickly though; once “out” I would never be able to go back “in”. The world now knew I was intersex, and that was a label … Continue reading →

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 last year (while I was not part of the council).  Now council officers have recommended that we close a further … Continue reading →