Today's Melbourne Age on the Yarra Council results:



Yarra



Socialism is alive and well in Yarra, with the nation's only socialist councillor Stephen Jolley returned with strong support.



Cr Jolley said yesterday he believed he had about 30 per cent of the vote in the Langridge Ward.



"This result is by far the best result for any socialist candidate in more than 50 years," he said.



The Greens and Labor also looked likely to hold their three places each, although the Greens have had some turnover.

Yarra Campaign Against the Tunnel - Newsletter for November 27, 2008



YCAT BBQ & get together Thursday, 4th December

Rate the Candidates - Joint Media Release From Yarra Campaign Against the Tunnel (YCAT) and the Public Transport User’s Association (PTUA)



YCAT BBQ & get together Thursday, 4th December 2008

http://www.ycat.org.au/?page_id=4/



BBQ in lieu of a meeting - Meet at Gahans Reserve, Melways 2C J9 - at 6 for 6.30pm Right near Collingwood Railway Station Behind the Collingwood Town Hall (public toilets next to Police station) BYO meat/ non-meat and refreshments. See you there!



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Rate the Candidates - Joint Media Release From Yarra Campaign Against the Tunnel (YCAT) and the Public Transport User’s Association (PTUA)

http://www.ycat.org.au/?p=102



Party Ranking:



A Stephen Jolly and SP Candidates

B + Greens Candidates

C- Labour Candidates



Yarra Campaign against the Tunnel and the Public Transport Users Association have joined forces to score candidates in the forthcoming elections for the City of Yarra.



YCAT Media Release: Candidates “Sustainability” Ranking, Yarra Municipal Elections (25 November, 200" style="display: inline; vertical-align: bottom;" class="emoticon" />

http://www.ycat.org.au/docs/Joint%20Media%20Release%202511fw.pdf



PTUA Media Release: PTUA joins YCAT to score City of Yarra candidates (26 November, 200" style="display: inline; vertical-align: bottom;" class="emoticon" />

http://www.ptua.org.au/2008/11/26/ptua-joins-ycat-to-score-city-of-yarra-candidates/



Candidates were asked to respond to survey questions on the Eddington Report and the proposed Victorian Transport Plan which though not yet released will almost certainly preference roads over sustainable public transport and rail freight transport. Collectively, we were interested in how the candidates/parties would act if elected on the specific sustainable transport issues including the proposed East-West Tunnel, road tunnel/s, tram priority, clearways and public transport governance.



YCAT Secretary, Freda Watkin said - though all candidates, with a single exception, were “saying no tunnel” in their campaign literature there is, in fact, significant differences and a range of opinions on what constitutes sustainable transport in each among candidates’ position”.



Just as the construction of the road tunnel will make the construction of an elevated freeway in the west inevitable so will a deferment of the tunnel but a decision to build more roads/tollways in the west make the East-West Tunnel, in time, inevitable. Thus will these decisions threaten the viability and liveability of inner north, north east and western Melbourne?



Issues, arising out of the recent transport forum which recommends increasing road transport size to double or even triple B’s, designating Hoddle Street as a major transport route and proposing night access to inner city roads and shopping centres is also a major issue.



“We believe voters need to take care when choosing their Council for the next four years as planning and infrastructure is still a major local government responsibility and we have no doubt that councils will be pressured, by the state government, to change local bi-laws to enable the implementation of the Victorian Transport Plan” (Freda Watkin).



“We need to know we have a council which will stand-up for residents and hold their ground - we do not need a council which will seek only to facilitate the process to minimise resident pain and disruption”. (Freda Watkin).



The response to our survey was disappointing - “We have all types, from those who responded positively on all our issues, to those who - astoundingly - took us to task for even wanting them to state a position,” she said.



Top marks went to the Socialist Party, represented on the current council by Councillor Steve Jolly. By contrast, independent candidate Tom McFeely scored an F for supporting the road tunnel and denying that transport is in any way an issue for local government.



“Traditionally, Victoria’s local governments have been the strongest lobbyists both for and against State Government policies on roads and on public transport,” said PTUA Secretary Tony Morton. “We’re not so naive as to think that it doesn’t matter who we elect to our local

councils, if we want action on sustainable transport and to change the road-obsessed policy of the State Government.”



The Greens also scored well on our survey by providing an informed response, a clear commitment to sustainable transport and a commitment to stop the tunnel and oppose the state government’s road expansion plans.



The Labour candidates declined to respond to the survey questions but via email reiterated their opposition to road tunnels while supporting rail tunnels.



“No council candidate is perfect,” said Freda Watkin, “but we can see that some are a good deal better than others when it comes to sustainable public and rail freight transport issues that will be so important in the coming months and years.”



Contacts



Yarra Campaign Against the Tunnel

Freda Watkin, 0403-526-342 freda.watkin[AT]gmail.com

Public Transport User’s Association

Anthony Morton 0405-725-845 amorton[AT]fastmail.fm







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Yarra Campaign Against the Tunnel

Stop the Road Tunnel - Demand Great Public Transport!

http://www.ycat.org.au

Residents

For the second year in a row, the Atherton Gardens public housing estate in Fitzroy has not got funding for its Xmas party. Last year SP worked with locals to raise money privately to ensure residents didn't miss out.

This year we need to repeat the exercise.

Can you make a donation in cash or in kind? If so, contact me on stephenjolly99@hotmail.com or phone 0433113421.

Regards

Stephen Jolly

Residents

Go to my facebook account to see two interesting photos from the campaign.

Steve

VOTE 1 Socialist Party in Yarra

All Victorian Councils will go to the polls on November 29. The Socialist Party is running a strong campaign in the City of Yarra. Read the text of our final leaflet below.



On November 29 elect campaigning councillors for your community



With an economic downturn fast approaching it matters who you elect as your local councillor. While the Federal Government has promised some money to Councils for major infrastructure projects, this will go side by side with slashing local services in order to save a few dollars.



Electing a Labor majority to the Council will not only be seen as a green light to the tunnel, inappropriate development and clearways, but it will make it easier for Canberra and Spring Street to carry out any cuts to services.



While half the Labor candidates in this election are telling us that they have done a good job and should be re-elected the other half are telling us that the Council is no good and needs to be changed! The Council definitely needs to improve but having Labor in power at a federal, state and local level will only mean more of the same.



Unfortunately the experience of the Greens on Council has been one of disappointment. They like Labor do not make it clear as to who they think should pay for the financial crisis. They pride themselves on being more ‘financially responsible’ than Labor. For them this has meant consistently voting for above inflation rate rises and implementing petty cuts. These rate rises have hurt residents immensely.



The Greens say that the Council needs to ‘act now’ but they have had Councillors elected at Yarra since 2001 and even held the position of Mayor twice! They have had plenty of time to ‘act’ but have delivered very little.



The Socialist Party is different. We believe that ordinary people should not be made to pay for the economic crisis. Our record is one of campaigning against cuts in our area and consistently standing on the side of residents.



We campaign for a Council that stands against any cuts and does everything possible to protect local residents and staff. Residents need campaigning councillors that will stand up against State and Federal Governments. If you agree we urge you to vote for the Socialist Party on November 29.



Socialist Party - Responsive, Active, Effective



We are defending Stephen Jolly’s seat in the Langridge ward and we are also standing Denise Dudley in the Melba ward and Anthony Main in the Nicholls ward.



If you can help our campaign during this final week please contact our National Office on 0396399111. We need help door knocking, letter boxing, staffing the pre polling booths and on election day. We also need to raise money to pay for the campaign.



For more information about our work in Yarra visit. http://www.socialistpartyaustralia.org/council



Also check out our Youtube videos related to the campaign visit.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=hPbvuxxWrd8

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=DAi4f5xlXGY



Socialist Party How-to-Vote cards



Langridge Ward (Fitzroy, Collingwood, Abbotsford, Clifton Hill, Alphington and South Fairfield)



2- STONE, Amanda

5- MILLS, Lindy

6- LONG, Michael

1- JOLLY, Stephen

4- BARBOUR, Geoff

7- McFEELY, Tom

3- FARRAR, Jenny Maree



Nicholls Ward (North Fitzroy and North Carlton)



5- FRISTACKY, Jackie M.

2- GAYLARD, Sam

4- MACK, Ian

6- GARRETT, Jane

3- SEKHON, Gurm

1- MAIN, Anthony



Melba Ward (Richmond)



2- CLARKE, Alison

5- TALEVSKI, Suzana

8- SMEDLEY, Dale

7- FUNDER, Josh

6- MORTON, Judy

9- QUICK, Ian

4- KRISTENSEN, Joe

3- CLAYTON, Davis

1- DUDLEY, Denise

Hi All

On Saturday week its election day, November 29th. Can you help at a polling booth? If so, email me hours you can do (it goes from 8am to 6pm).

PS the after party is from 6pm at 28 Wright St, Clifton Hill with free pizza, election board tally, beer etc. Please come along and bring friends!

Steve

Residents,



Last night the Yarra Council held the last meeting of the 2004-2008 term. It was a very short meeting and was largely uncontroversial. Many issues including the location of the North Fitzroy Library will be dealt with by the new Council.



St Andrews Kindergarten

After a long dispute, where I have supported the kindergarten community, Council voted to continue to support the relocation of St Andrews Kindergarten to Walker Street, Clifton Hill. For technical reasons, the move will now go ahead in January and the kindy will be ready by Term 3 of next year.



Council decided to replace an officer recommendation to move the kinder in the meantime to Council-run centres in Fitzroy and North Carlton with a recommendation to move to the Mark Street Hall in North Fitzroy. This allows this kindy community to stay together for the first two terms of 2009 and it is closer for families to access.



Question Without Notice

I asked a question without notice about the two ABC Learning child care centres in Yarra – “did Council have any news about their future”. I added that with long waiting lists, Yarra cannot afford to lose two childcare centres, and if necessary, they should be taken over by the Council. The position of the Socialist Party is that with ABC Learning and now CFK Childcare going into voluntary administration, they should be taken into public ownership. Childcare is an important service and should not be run by profiteers.

See our article from last week on ABC Learning here: http://www.socialistpartyaustralia.org/archives/1539



Darebin Trail

I moved the recommendation to support filling in the ‘missing link’ of the Lower Darebin Trail. See my letter to next weeks Melbourne Times below.



Dear Editor,

Elizabeth Jackson claims that Yarra Council voted to axe 300 mature trees to fix the missing link in the Darebin Creek Trail (letters, 12/11/0" style="display: inline; vertical-align: bottom;" class="emoticon" />. She says Councillors deserve “zero rating” for this. She would be correct if her allegations were true – but there are not.



The Socialist Party along with the vast bulk of residents support the extension of the Lower Darebin Creek walking and bike trail. It will open up great new opportunities for cyclists and walkers. To do this 44 trees will go, of which only 1 is large. They will be replaced by 89 trees. So residents will get their long awaited trail plus a net increase of 45 trees. This is a good result for all.



Regards

Stephen Jolly



Election

With the Council election only 10 days away it will be interesting to see the make up of the new 2008-2012 Council. The one certainty is that we need more socialist councillors in Yarra! If you can help our campaign in any way over the next 10 days please email or call our office on 96399111.

Residents

You can vote early in Yarra City Council election this week, next week, and the week after Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm at Fitzroy Town Hall, Napier St.

You don't need ID - just tell the VEC officer your name and address and you will be OK to vote.

In the last week before the election (the week after next) you can also pre-poll at Collingwood Town Hall on Hoddle St.

You should pre-poll if you are away on election day or if you are helping staff our pre-poll booths so you don't have to waste time in a queue on the day.

If you want a postal vote, contact us now and we will organise for you.

If you can help on election day, Saturday 29th November, contact us now.

There will be the mother of all parties on election night, and all helpers get free pizza and (maybe!) a free drink.

Regards

Stephen Jolly (0433113421)

Here is the text of our latest election leaflet, contact us if you can help letterbox.



On November 29 elect campaigning Councillors for your community



Stephen Jolly, Langridge Ward

Denise Dudley, Melba Ward

Anthony Main, Nicholls Ward



Stephen Jolly, 46, lives in Clifton Hill and works in the construction industry. He has been the hardest working Councillor in Yarra since 2004 and a community campaigner in the area since the early 1990s.



Denise Dudley, 31, lives in Richmond and works as a nurse. She has been active in many community campaigns including leading the Community Campaign for Heroin Reform (CCHR).



Anthony Main, 32, lives in Carlton North and is the Secretary of the fast food and retail workers’ union, UNITE. He is also a founding member of the Yarra Campaign Against the Tunnel (YCAT).



Responsive. Active. Effective.



Unfortunately the record of Yarra Council is one of high rates, ridiculous charges such as permits for training in our parks, scrapping services like our six-monthly hard rubbish collection, and the continued privatisation of street cleaning.



Stephen Jolly from the Socialist Party has been the only councillor to oppose these policies pushed through by the ALP, Greens and Independents.

The changing economic situation is a real threat for the communities of Yarra – especially those on lower incomes.



It is now vital that we elect campaigning Councillors for our communities and get organised so that together we can fight to protect and improve this area.

The following are some of the policies the Socialist Party will pursue if elected.



Resident friendly planning



Yarra’s Planning Department too often treats major developers with kid gloves, yet puts residents wanting a minor renovation through the wringer.

We say put the needs of people and the community at the heart of planning.

This would mean restructuring the Planning Department so that it is faster, more resident friendly, and less bureaucratic.



We must insist that the necessary social and public services are provided before any new developments are completed. This way will will create living communities not soulless matchboxes like the Docklands.



Bring back hard rubbish



Last month the Green and ALP Councillors voted against returning the regular hard rubbish collection – only SP Councillor Stephen Jolly voted in favour.



To stop dumping in local areas and to stop the need for ratepayers to pay for private operators, we will organise a campaign for the return the six-monthly hard rubbish collection. We will also keep the current personalised service.



Improve children’s services



We demand emergency action by the council to ensure that the 1000 children currently on waiting lists for childcare and kindergardens are catered for.

Council must give a commitment to invest in new facilities to boost the number of places so that all children have a place. This is a vital social investment.



No to excessive rate rises



Rates in Yarra were already very high but the ALP and Greens have voted for annual rate rises equal to inflation plus 2.5%. With questionable revaluations these rises have often been higher.



Stephen Jolly has been the only Councillor to vote against these rises.

Yarra Council must not use the people of Yarra as cash cows, particularly now when living standards are already being undermined.



Support public housing



We will campaign for the council to redirect its youth workers onto the estates and to properly fund residents associations. This will give the associations much more autonomy. Healthy, safe public housing estates are good for all Yarra residents.



Real action on the environment



While the ALP and Greens do a lot of talking, the Socialist Party drove through the introduction of Green Waste and a Zero Emissions Policy.

More needs to be done, such as making builders adhere to the highest environmentally-friendly standards.



No to the east-west tunnel



The Socialist Party helped establish the Yarra Campaign Against the Tunnel (YCAT). We are opposed to spending more than $9 billion on a tunnel when public transport is lacking in many areas of Melbourne.



More sports facilities



We will propose and fight for an indoor sports centre in Yarra as well as investment in artificial fields to allow sport to continue in a time of drought.



The Socialist Party says:



Put the needs of ordinary people at the heart of Yarra Council policy.



No to cut backs as a result of economic crisis. Use resources for council and public investment in much needed public services and jobs.



Vote 1 for the Socialist Party candidates so we can fight to transform Yarra Council and begin to provide a real socialist alternative throughout Melbourne.



As none of the main parties, particularly Labor, can claim to represent the interests of the majority of people, it is time to establish a new workers party to represent ordinary people. Electing campaigning Councillors to the Yarra Council on November 29 will be a step in the right direction.



Want to help with our election campaign?



We need help door knocking, letter boxing, staffing the pre polling booths and on election day (November 29). We also need to raise money to pay for the campaign. If you can help in any way please contact the SP National Office on 9639 9111.



Want to contact our candidates?



Phone Stephen Jolly on 0433113421

Phone Denise Dudley on 0411352175

Phone Anthony Main on 0417368215



You can email them via the SP National Office info@socialistpartyaustralia.org



Also please visit the SP Yarra Council website at www.socialistpartyaustralia.org/council



Want to join or get more info about the Socialist Party?



Phone: 03 9639 9111

Email: info@socialistpartyaustralia.org

Web: www.socialistpartyaustralia.org

Post: PO BOX 1015 Collingwood Victoria 3066

Visit: Trades Hall, Level 1, 54 Victoria Street Carlton South



Authorised by Antony Alder, 54 Victoria St, Carlton South

Printed by Arena Publishing, 2 Kerr St, Fitzroy on

100% post-consumer recycled paper

Dear Residents

There is a pre-polling booth for the Council election on Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm at Fitzroy Town Hall, Napier St entrance. Can you help staff this booth? It frees up the candidates and others to do doorknocking and it is important to boost our vote. So far we have staffed it 100% of time (as have the ALP, but not the Greens).

Please ring 0433113421 or email if you can help - just tell us days and times you can do.

Regards

Steve