Critical Social Issues
As a progressive independent, I care about important social issues such as First Nations Treaty, taking climate action, encouraging democratic participation, and stopping the ongoing war in Gaza.
Critical Social Issues
As a progressive independent I care about the broader social issues that we are currently grappling with. While I recognise the limited power I have as a local government Councillor, we can still take small, yet meaningful actions to help make positive social change.
First Nations Treaty, Truth-Telling, and Voice
As a Chinese-Malaysian migrant whose lands were colonised and controlled by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial powers, I think its important that we recognise that we live and work on stolen land and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.
Its important that we celebrate the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Ancestors, and Elders, with whom we learn and share our lives on their Traditional Lands. I support their struggle for self-determination and acknowledge and value their culture, knowledges, their continuous custodianship and care for Country. Always was and always will be, Aboriginal land.
I am in full support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and believe that as a country we need to establish a First Nations Voice, enshrined by the constitution and we must setup a Makarrata Commission to engage in the process of Treaty and Truth-Telling.
As your future Councillor, I will work with the First Nations people and organisations within Darebin and other levels of government to continue the fight for justice.
Climate Action
Climate change is real and it is here.
I think many of us have accepted this reality, yet what can we to do?
It's easy to feel hopeless under such dire circumstances, but if we work together we can have a big impact. There are two ways that we can address this growing concern.
The first is through reducing our overall emissions by either making cultural changes (i.e. buying less things, repairing what we already own, or changing our daily habits) or broader policy changes (i.e. making public transport more convenient, switching to renewable energy sources, or supporting more urban greening).
The second is beginning to think about how we can start to adapt to our new extreme climate reality. This means better designed apartments and houses while also retrofitting existing housing stock to improve their insulation properties.
The War in Gaza
I condemn the actions of Benjamin Netanyahu. Too many people have died.
The genocide in Gaza needs to end. Israel needs to stop bombing Gaza and killing Palestinians and Hamas needs to release the Israeli hostages.
If we are to have any hope in moving forward, then we need to recognise the sovereignty of the Palestinian state while also advocating for a ceasefire. Both the state of Israel and the state of Palestine need to work out a two-state solution.