Ms THEOPHANOUS (Northcote): As we close the last sitting week of the year and this term of government, I want to reflect on the last four years. In 2018 I was honoured to be elected to serve the community I was born and raised in, Northcote. Elected on the promise of action, not words, I have spent every day working with residents, business and our schools and community groups to listen and deliver on the issues we care about. It has been a tumultuous few years, among the most challenging in a generation. Through it all I have been so grateful to the people of Northcote, who have risen with courage and determination. Together we have achieved so much. We have delivered upgrades and improvements at every local school, modernised our transport networks, opened new public health services and built critical social housing. We have backed important projects like the Alphington link, removed four level crossings, upgraded sportsgrounds and built 18 new netball courts. Over $5 million has gone to supporting our multicultural, First Nations, seniors and community organisations. Local traders have been funded to bring back the wonderful High Street festival to generate jobs and re-energise our creative and live music industries, and we have propelled landmark reforms like free kinder, sick pay for casuals and a new mental health system.
When I was elected I committed to pushing for rapid climate action. Victoria is now leading the nation to transition to renewable energy, and I have been proud to work to secure gas-free housing and waste reform and protect our waterways. Real action comes through vision, values and hard work, not empty promises. Northcote, I am so proud of how far we have come. There is still more to do to make our suburbs stronger, fairer and more sustainable, and Labor has the momentum to do it.
