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Committee and Shire joint visit to Federal Parliament 

On 25 June 2024 the Committee for Frankston & Mornington Peninsula (CFMP) and Mornington Peninsula Shire Council undertook a joint advocacy visit to Parliament House in Canberra to discuss a number of shared priorities.

CFMP CEO, Josh Sinclair, was joined by Mornington Peninsula Shire Mayor, Cr Simon Brooks, and Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Manager of Advocacy, Randal Mathieson. All meetings held were facilitated by Federal Member for Flinders, Zoe McKenzie, and Federal Member for Dunkley, Jodie Belyea.


Meeting with Shadow Minister for Infrastructure Bridget McKenzie and Victorian Senator Jane Hume.

The Committee presented its’ new Strategic Plan, which outlines key advocacy priorities for the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula region, including tackling our region’s housing crisis, better infrastructure, and sustainable development. Many of these priorities are shared with local government.

Meetings were held with:

  • Minister for Environment, Tanya Plibersek’s office and Chief of Staff
  • Minister for Housing, Julie Collin’s office and senior advisors

  • Federal Member for Flinders, Zoe McKenzie MP
  • Federal Member for Dunkley, Jodie Belyea MP

 We also briefly met with:

  • Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Bridget McKenzie
  • Victorian Senator, Jane Hume

 

Meeting with the office of Minister for Environment, Tanya Plibersek, and the office of Minister for Housing, Julie Collins.

The discussion around housing and homelessness centred around a number of advocacy initiatives, including:

  • Unlocking surplus port-zoned land near Hastings for residential purposes to assist the Victorian Government in meeting their 67,000 new homes target for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula.
  • Providing more funding for crisis accommodation support across our region
  • Workforce accommodation issues and key worker accommodation across Frankston and Mornington Peninsula and across different industries
  • Getting our fair share from State Government under the Big Housing Build, and being included in programs that would assist our region; including the Regional Workers Accommodation Fund and revenue generated from the Short-stay levy.


 

MP Shire Mayor, Cr Simon Brooks, and Committee CEO Josh Sinclair with Jodie Belyea MP.

Discussions with the Minister for Environment’s office focussed around the current proposal for the Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal to be established at the Port of Hastings.

  •  The Committee stated its support for a thorough Environmental Effects Statement (EES) process and endorsed the terminal as the centrepiece in attracting further green and clean energy industries and high-tech precincts seeking to set up in Western Port.
  • The Committee also reiterated that with the advancement of off-shore wind off the coast of Gippsland, Hastings’ role has never been more important and certainty and appropriate engagement between both levels of government is crucial if governments are to reach ambitious renewable energy targets.
  • Certainty is what the community, stakeholders and business are after when it comes to long term, game-changing projects like the VRET, and the Committee is comfortable that the process is now progressing in the right direction after some initial uncertainty.



Watch our video recap of the joint visit here.

The Committee presented its new Strategic Plan to several Shadow Ministers. Our Strategic Plan includes priority advocacy areas:

  •        Homes and livelihoods
  •        Better infrastructure; better connectivity
  •        Sustainable Development
  •        Smarter people; healthy communities
  •        A thriving local economy and world-class destination

The Committee will launch it’s Strategic Plan in full to its members on 18 July in Hastings.

The Committee would like to thank our local MP’s for helping coordinate the trip, and the Shire for assisting in our ongoing advocacy efforts as a Community Partner.

The relationship between local government and the Committee has proven successful in other parts of Victoria, and we will continue to collaborate on shared advocacy efforts.