Campaign is over for Romeo before it began

News / Council Elections

Campaign is over for Romeo before it began

Brunswick West candidate disqualified for failing to follow election rules

Mark Phillips
Updated: Wednesday, October 9, 2024

A CANDIDATE for the Brunswick West ward at Merri-bek Council’s elections has been disqualified from standing for failing to complete mandatory training for would-be councillors.

Romeo Delorenzis was informed by the Victorian Electoral Commission on Friday that his candidacy would be “retired” because he did not complete the training module before nominating on September 11.

The development came after his name had already been printed on ballot papers that the VEC will begin mailing to the ward’s 12,000 voters on Monday.

Delorenzis, a semi-retired carpenter, had nominated as an independent candidate and appeared at a candidates’ forum on September 26, a day after he was informed in writing by the VEC that it intended to disqualify him.

He had planned to run on a 10-point platform which included reducing rates, installing more electric vehicle chargers and advocating for all ratepayers to be issued with two tip vouchers a year.

All candidates across Victoria were required to complete the compulsory online training module about the roles and responsibilities of councillors before lodging their nomination forms. The online module takes about an hour to complete.

The VEC confirmed on Friday that Delorenzis would not be allowed to stand because he had not completed the mandatory training as required under the Local Government Act.

Delorenzis said he believed he had been penalised for an honest mistake and the VEC should have used its discretion to allow him to continue to run for council.

“I’ve done the training, my understanding was it was completed,” he said.

“I think I’ve been treated very unfairly, it’s very wrong.”

De Lorenzis said he had problems doing the training at home and had gone to the Merri-bek Council offices in Coburg where he did the module with the help of council staff in early-September.

But he believed he may have accidentally erred by not electronically submitting his results so there was no record that he had completed the training.

Brunswick Voice was with Delorenzis at about 12.30pm on Friday when he was informed by phone that he had been disqualified. He spent about 15 minutes on the phone pleading unsuccessfully to be allowed to continue to run for the council.

Including the cost of nominating and printing posters and flyers, Delorenzis estimated he was about $500 out of pocket.

The disqualification of Delorenzis came after ballot papers had been printed and was too late for his name to be removed, but any votes for him will not be counted.

“Voters should follow the instructions in their ballot packs to cast a formal vote,” said a VEC spokesperson. “When counting votes for these elections, the retired candidate’s votes will be passed on to other candidates according to voters’ preferences.”

The VEC website had been updated by Sunday night to indicate that Delorenzis had been removed from the election.

On Wednesday, Delorenzis said he had lodged an appeal for review at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal based on documents he had obtained from the VEC but whether that would be heard in time to make votes for him count is unclear.

Voters will begin receiving their ballot papers in the mail this week. Elections are being held in four wards in Brunswick under the new singe councillor ward system.

Most candidates have faced voters at public forums over the past fortnight organised by the Brunswick Residents Network. The final two forums – for Randazzo and Warrk-Warrk wards – were held last Thursday.

Voting for the council elections is by postal vote, and votes must be returned to the VEC by close of business on October 25.

What you need to know about the council elections in Brunswick

Local government elections will be held this October for 78 councils across Victoria. Voting will be by post from Monday, October 7 to Friday, October 25.

Merri-bek City Council has 11 wards with one councillor in each ward. There are four wards in Brunswick. Voting is compulsory for all residents aged over 18.

Who are the candidates in Brunswick’s wards?

Brunswick Voice invited each candidate to submit a short statement about why they are running for Merri-bek Council. Where a candidate did not provide a statement, we have used the one that appears on the Victorian Electoral Commission website. Candidates appear in the order they are on ballot papers.

Brunswick West

As a long-time resident and mother, I understand the challenges we face, with rising living costs and the need for better housing solutions.

With your support I will draw on my 20 years of experience in housing and community development to address the essential needs of our community.

My priorities include promoting financial responsibility, empowering local businesses, improving housing, strengthening community connections and improving council communication.

By getting back to basics, I’ll ensure rate transparency, develop sensible solutions for parking, waste management, and infrastructure investment.

Through true community engagement and collaboration I’ll bring an authentic and equitable approach to council. We can embracing forward-thinking ideas, seize opportunities and to build a brighter future together.

With your support, I will redirect funds towards meaningful support for residents, emphasising job creation and reducing the cost of living.

As a true independent I have no political alignment and will answer only to the people of my electorate and not any party.

Together, let’s focus on practical solutions that make Merri-bek more affordable and prosperous for everyone.

I’m Ella Svensson, your Greens candidate, a psychologist, community advocate, and proud queer woman. I love living in Brunswick West and being part of our diverse and welcoming community. I’m standing to be your councillor to fight for a fairer, more connected, and sustainable Merri-bek.

If elected, I will:

[1] Push for more genuinely affordable, good-quality housing, including building affordable housing on council land, and limiting Airbnbs to free up homes for renters and first home buyers.

[2] Connect our community and address the cost-of-living crisis through properly funding essential services like maternal healthcare, community childcare, youth and older people’s services, playgrounds, sporting facilities, and libraries.

[3] Address the climate and biodiversity crises through increasing green space and tree coverage, renaturalising the Moonee Ponds Creek trail, and supporting households to transition to renewable energy.

[4] Invest in safe cycling and walking infrastructure like separated bike lanes and pedestrian crossings.

[5] Revitalise our streets by upgrading our shopping strips and supporting local arts and culture.

[6] Champion local democracy by prioritising consultation with the community and improving transparency of council decision making.

Vote [1] Ella Svensson to elect a young, progressive woman to truly represent the community with integrity and compassion.

I’m proud of where I live, and I love our community. I love the parks, creeks, and laneways, I love our cafes, restaurants, and history. Every day, I feel lucky to live here.

My parents migrated from Greece in the 60’s, and ever since, we’ve called this place home. I was born here. I live here. I love this place.

I’m your Labor candidate; I’m a former Mayor and current Deputy Mayor.

Together, we have delivered new parks, childcare places, aged care services, and a new arts centre.

But there is more to be done.

We need more community services for young people, families, and seniors, more affordable housing and rental assistance, and more parks and sports fields.

We need solutions to traffic problems, and we must protect our neighbourhood from overdevelopment.

We need to invest in renewables and community batteries to lower power bills.

It’s time to revitalise our shopping precincts and help local businesses create new opportunities.

I’m running because I care about Brunswick West. With your support, I’ll continue to look after our community and every family who calls our community home.

Hello, I’m Anneke. My entire adult life I’ve been a grassroots activist. The student protests against Tony Abbott in 2014 that defeated the introduction of a two-tiered education model and $100,000 degrees developed my approach to winning change. It comes from below – you, me and the millions who know that we need change.

Alongside community, I’ve organised protests against racism, for refugee rights and demanding action on the climate crisis. In 2019 I led a mass demonstration of tens of thousands in response to the terrible bushfires that took place that summer – a result of runaway climate change and outrageous defunding and privatisation of essential public services. More recently I have been part of Free Palestine Melbourne and the demonstrations for justice in Gaza.

The cost of living crisis is out of control. Councils could help to ease these pressures. Instead, we have councils across Melbourne selling off public land and prioritising the interests of big developers. I want to see an increase in big developer contributions to the Development Contribution Plan to build more public housing and parks. Human needs must come before developer greed.

I would be honoured to be a voice for the people of West Brunswick and promise to represent the needs of ordinary people for every issue, big or small.

Bulleke-bek

I am a Brunswick resident of 20+ years with hands-on delivery of urban greening projects for the last 10 years. As a parent, I have been active in the local community. I am an IT project management professional and former teacher. I have previous experience on elected committees.

Brunswick should be more than simply a dormitory suburb of high-priced, high-rise apartment blocks and maintain its diverse social and economic fabric. It should be at the forefront of urban greening. Its vibrant artistic and cultural legacy should be community-driven.

The state government continues to erode ratepayers’ rights to object to inappropriate development. Residents need jargon-free explanations of planning changes that impact them.

Sydney Road is the backbone of Brunswick and needs stronger economic development efforts and better user infrastructure. We must be more realistic about what the state government will deliver for Sydney Road transport upgrades.

Merri-bek needs a mayor for four years, to be a truly effective advocate to the state government and carry out residents and ratepayers’ agenda for a full Council term.

We need better community consultation for open space planning and improving coordination of its many policies. Tree planting targets have resulted in waste and poor outcomes and urban greening needs to be more targeted towards biodiversity.

As a parent of two children at local schools, I want to see the needs of families better represented.

As a former teacher, I think the needs of children and young people should be better reflected in our urban design.

I am part of Moreland’s vibrant urban greening community as one of the people behind Brunswick Communities for Nature which grows and distributes indigenous plants for all green spaces.

I’ve been a local community activist for more than 20 years around issues such as housing, refugee rights and racism, so I understand how to build and support community campaigns.

Being a parent, an avid cyclist and environmentalist also informs my perspective and I genuinely care about people’s concerns.

The council should be democratic, accountable and responsive to the needs of the community.

It should effectively balance a range of interests to pursue a fairer, more liveable Brunswick that puts the needs of ordinary people above those of developers and investors, and represents local people at a state level.

As a pink-haired, multilingual gay cyclist and former immigrant, I’m as Brunswick as it gets.

But Brunswick still has a lot more in store. We’ve been good at finding politicians who can get offended and who squabble over who’s getting a slice of a small pie. Can we please stop electing virtue-signallers who don’t even walk the walk?

Australia’s R&D spending has plummeted to just 1.7% and we now rank 82nd in the world for economic complexity, between Sri Lanka and Kenya.

Brunswick’s place as the cultural heart of Melbourne relies on the health of Melbourne, and by extension, Australia.

The Fusion Party is committed to treating climate change as an emergency, acting at all levels of government. We’re committed to using technology to serve our actual needs, not just as a means of distraction and manipulation. We can use technology to make local council transparent, accountable and efficient. We can gain deeper insight into the workings of our society and enable smarter decision-making.

These are all things that are good for doing business here and for delivering better services with lower taxes. Don’t vote for more of the same – we can dream so much bigger!

I’m Dr Jay Iwasaki (PhD Ecology) and I’ve spent over a decade as an ecologist, educator (union), and bee scientist. I’ve been involved with projects at prestigious institutions such as Harvard University, the University of Adelaide, and Melbourne University.

Locally I’m on the board at Friends of the Earth Melbourne and have been a presenter at 3CR community radio. I was also on the national task force managing the Varroa-mite (honeybee parasite) incursion in Australia. My work has focused on protecting biodiversity, particularly pollinators, and advocating for sustainable solutions to climate change.

In Melbourne I’ve been active at FoE’s Sustainable Cities and Act on Climate collectives, and support better public transport and accessible tram stops. My primary modes of travel are cycling and public transport, reflecting my commitment to sustainable living. I believe my experience and expertise will be invaluable in advocating for the sustainable development of Merri-bek (prioritising local businesses and the arts). I’m also passionate about affordable housing, having rented for almost 20 years.

I’m running because I believe in positive politics and collaboration. I’m committed to being an accessible, accountable, and pragmatic representative for everyone, working together to tackle the issues that affect our community.

A resident of 35 years, I was a candidate at the last council election and narrowly missed but enjoyed connecting with the community.

As a former secondary teacher I have taught in local schools and been on committees and advocated for local kindergartens, schools and sporting clubs.

I am particularly passionate about community sport and inclusivity. I am an activist and advocate for biodiversity.

My career has also been in finance and I currently work part time at a large industry super fund.

My goal is to listen and learn from the local community and support their concerns in council.

Randazzo

I’m a first generation Australian- Greek and have lived in Brunswick all my life attending Brunswick Primary and Brunswick East High school. Having graduated as a teacher I worked in schools across Merri-Bek. My parents migrated and built a life for their family, establishing and contributing to what Brunswick is today since, 1956.

I raised my 19-year-old as a single mother and I am a dog owner. I am passionate about mental and physical health and fitness.

As a candidate with your vote, I’ll support those who feel unheard, maintain what has made me continue to live in Brunswick for six decades and support local small businesses to ensure we keep it Brunswick. I will push for:

• improved public transport;
• aged care;
• youth programs;
• disability services;
• neighbourhood safety;
• parks and recreation;
• parking and roads;
• public art and mural display areas;
• appropriate rates.

Local government should focus on local issues. Let’s keep it Brunswick.

I’m excited to be your Greens-endorsed candidate for council.

I’m a transport planner — my job is all about making our streets safe, sustainable and accessible.

I spend a lot of time talking with people, listening to what they want for their streets. What I’ve found is that transport cuts across everything: cost of living, housing affordability, climate action, health, and children’s independence. In other words, everything is connected.

I want to work with Merri-bek residents to rethink how we use our streets – making more space for trees for shade and biodiversity, for water sensitive urban design, and for places for people to socialise. Creating more liveable streets and places can be challenging and takes time, but I know we can get there and would love to use my experience to help.

As your candidate, my areas of focus are safer walking and bike riding, revitalising Sydney Road, and greener neighbourhoods.

I am a Brunswick resident, civil engineer for major transport projects and father of a little toddler.

I have long advocated for bike lanes and accessible tram stops in the Merri-bek area and have been extremely passionate about sustainability and climate justice issues.

During my time as a community activist and member of Socialist Alliance I have been involved in many climate-related campaigns.

I’m running for Council because I don’t want to sit on the sidelines and just be a witness to decisions about our community. I believe that Council can be a true voice of the people to fight for safe and sustainable transport and a strong local neighbourhood, as well as for justice everywhere.

If elected, I’ll use my experience of working with current Merri-Bek councillor Sue Bolton to empower residents to fight for their rights including opposing inappropriate development by property developers to winning safer roads for pedestrians and improved infrastructure for cyclists.

As a lifelong resident of Merri-Bek, my commitment to our community runs deep — from my days at Sydney Road Community School to my advocacy with local nonprofits and community groups. Last year, I proudly help lead Wills For Yes in the referendum, standing up for First Nations justice. Now, I am eager to serve you as your local councillor. If elected, my priorities will be:

• Transforming Sydney Road: I am committed to revitalizing Sydney Road and Lygon street into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly hub. This iconic street deserves to be a thriving center of community life, with improved infrastructure, green spaces, and amenities that benefit residents and businesses alike.
• Improving Service Delivery: Merri-Bek’s core services need a serious upgrade. I will prioritise fixing local roads, ensuring consistent waste collection, and addressing litter in our parks and streets. We need an efficient and responsive council that listens to residents and acts swiftly to resolve issues.
• Promoting Green Spaces: I envision creating micro forests in densely populated areas. These green spaces not only beautify our neighborhoods but also promote biodiversity and provide natural sanctuaries for everyone to enjoy.
• Celebrating Arts and Music: The Brunswick Music Festival is a jewel in our cultural crown, but I aim to expand it into the Brunswick Arts and Music Festival. This expansion will showcase our local talent, attract visitors, and stimulate our local economy through increased spending in businesses and robust support for artists and musicians.

Together, we can build a community that thrives on inclusivity, sustainability, and prosperity for all. I am not just asking for your vote — I am asking for the opportunity to be a catalyst for positive change in the place we all call home.

I’m a Brunswick resident and a supermarket worker. I’m running as a Victorian Socialist candidate in this October’s council election because I believe we need a better, fairer society.

Over the 15 years I’ve rented in Merri-bek, I’ve seen council services and amenities run-down and rents and house prices skyrocket, putting pressure on working-class people and forcing many to move elsewhere. I want to change this.

I believe the domination of big business interests in politics is a big problem. Those at the top enjoy ever greater wealth, but, as a supermarket worker, I’ve seen first hand that many others are struggling just to get by.

We need to turn this around.

I’ve been a socialist for almost two decades. In that time, I’ve helped organise community campaigns against racism, for refugee rights and for action on the climate crisis. I’m also a long-time pro-Palestine activist.

If I’m elected to Merri-bek council this October, I’ll fight for you.

Warrk-Warrk

I’m a Brunswick resident, health care worker, unionist, single parent, anti-racist and Palestine activist. I am proud to be the Victorian Socialists candidate in Warrk-Warrk ward.

I’m running for council because I want to shine a light on how federal and state government policy impacts people in our area. The lack of affordable housing is an example–developers enjoy privileges denied to renters and ordinary homeowners.

I want to hold elected representatives to account on green-lighting developments that don’t include social housing and parks.

Years ago, I attended a mass organising meeting for refugee rights in the wake of the Tampa incident, which signalled the start of Australia’s cruel offshore detention regime. As a result, I’ve become a passionate fighter against injustice and inequality.

If elected, I will be a voice for social justice, including demanding an immediate end to Israel’s war in Gaza.

My experience has shown me that rights are won not by asking nicely, but by engaging the community, mobilising people and demanding change.

I am 66 years young, born and mostly resided in Merri-bek with the last 31 years in East Brunswick.

A social worker and educator, with a medical degree, I continue to tutor social work students in Indigenous studies. As an ally of First Peoples for 40 years including 20 years on the ALP Aboriginal Affairs Policy committee, Captain of Wills for Yes referendum campaign and a former member of the Merri-bek Reconciliation Advisory committee and founding member of First Nation Justice-Wills, my commitment to community cohesion is clear . Further demonstrated by my current roles as Deputy Chair of the Merri-bek Interfaith Network and member of Merri-bek Human Rights Advisory Group.

I have undertaken 56 years of long-term activism to promote human rights, peace, anti-Uranium, First People’s rights, feminism, LGBTQI+ rights through multiple community and faith groups always with a progressive focus.

My council priorities would be:

• Developing a Treaty between First Peoples and Merri–bek.
• Using education to address racism, increase women’s rights and prevent family violence , raise awareness of workers’ rights and the struggles of solo households.
• Increasing social cohesion to enhance mental health, reduce loneliness through continued human rights & social cohesion stances.
• Focusing on service delivery for youth and disability, aged home and residential care people including addressing ageism in the community.
• Developing strategies to enhance ‘joined up’ accessible community, health and aged services.
• Maintaining a thriving CERES.
• Providing safe walking and cycling by separating pedestrians, e-scooters, cyclists and cars with balanced parking that acknowledges car dependent members of our community eg. the elderly, carers & those ably different.
• Ensuring increased housing supply and advocating for those struggling with cost-of-living pressure including renters.
• Advocating that the Glenroy Ballert-Mooroop project be handed over to Wurundjeri Woi-wurung traditional owners.
• Ensuring that attention is focused on Lygon Street enhancement projects.

I’m your current Mayor and I’m proud to have been a Greens representative for our community since 2020.

I love living in Brunswick East, where I rent with my husband Niccolò.

I’m an experienced campaigner for social, economic and environmental justice and have worked for First Nations, human rights and climate non-profits.

This term, I’ve worked hard to deliver for our community, including supporting new good quality housing; creating new parks; planting more trees; building more safe cycling infrastructure and investing in the arts.

But there’s more to do. If re-elected, I will: fight for more social and affordable housing; help tackle the cost of living crisis by making sure our essential services are properly funded, like our libraries and youth and aged care services; act on the climate crisis and protect our local environment, including the Merri Creek; make our streets safer and greener for everybody, whether you’re walking, riding or driving; and back a Treaty with Traditional Owners.

News / Council Elections