We need to do more to make sure that African Australians, and people from all backgrounds and faiths, have the opportunities in life that we all deserve.
It can be hard to find work in Melbourne at the best of times. But it's downright unfair if you can't get a foot in the door because of your religion or the colour of your skin.
Many of Melbourne's public housing residents, and especially qualified members of the African community, want to work, but face discrimination that their peers do not.
In one of many academic studies, 50% of African Australians reported experiencing discrimination while trying to find work.
A jobs program was recently announced for residents of the Flemington Public Housing estate, but many see it as an attempt to minimise the damage of Labor's unpopular plan to sell public housing land from under the feet of residents.
Jobs should be available for all who want and need them.
We call on the Government to extend this employment program with African community leadership across all the public housing estates of inner Melbourne.
The treatment of the asylum seekers being held inside the Park Hotel is unfathomably cruel.After 8 years in detention, these people are now facing yet another struggle - against COVID-19.I asked the Victorian Government to advocate to release these people from this hotel prison immediately.
We have all worked so hard and sacrificed so much to keep our community safe during this pandemic. Now it's time to re-open and revitalise our incredible city! Young people of Melbourne - what are you most looking forward to doing?
The Victorian Government today released the final Arden Structure Plan, for a new precinct in inner city Melbourne that the State Government says will be home to 15,000 residents and 34,000 employees by 2050.
We need to do more to make sure that African Australians, and people from all backgrounds and faiths, have the opportunities in life that we all deserve.