For the first time in the party's history, the Liberal Party will formally endorse a team to stand in October's Melbourne city election.
The Liberal Party, led by 34-year-old CBD resident Mariam Riza and local business owner Luke Martin as mayoral and deputy mayoral candidates respectively, is making a big push to elect councilors next month. .
If successful, East Melbourne resident and former Victorian Liberal Treasurer Owen Guest will be elected. He was an influential figure in the party's first official bid in Melbourne.
Mr Guest, who previously ran for the Liberal Party in McNamara Federal Council (formerly Melbourne Ports) in 2016, will be joined by Mandarin teacher and South Bank resident Yu Lee Liston to take up the second slot for council candidate. will be filled in.
Mr Guest said in an interview with CBD News in early September that the timing for the party's first official town hall push was “necessary” as Melbourne was “suffering” under the current leadership.
Mr Guest told CBD News: “We've had a Labor government at state level for too long and there have been clearly negative side effects.”
“We now have a Labor mayor who works hand in hand with a Labor government. He has done so all his life and Melbourne has suffered.”
“Nick Rees and the Labor Party cannot be given a free pass. That is what they have received for far too long.”
“I said it's time to do something about it, and they (the Liberal Party) have shown the courage to promote Mariam, Luke, Yu Lee and me and say, 'Go for it.' Ta.”
Ms. Riza has experience in the nonprofit sector with the Brotherhood of St. Lawrence and has worked in public service focused on economic revitalization, jobs and employment, social impact, and community strengthening.
She said when she moved to Melbourne 10 years ago, she fell in love with the city and its beauty. But in recent years, she said, she has started to feel a sense of “darkness” and “sadness.”
“We're not carrying as many people as we used to. We've lost business along the way,” Riza said. “It wasn't as lively as I remembered, and there were no residents in sight.”
Mr Guest, who works in the financial industry, said his biggest concern about the current situation in the city and Victoria was that some described it as “at risk of becoming a sovereign risk”. added.
“Who would invest in Melbourne today? And the answer is fewer and fewer,” he said.
People are moving between states and setting up businesses in places that are cheaper, easier and have less interference from local and state governments.
“We're seeing that in the CBD too. There are too many leases.”
The Liberal team has yet to release a full list of policies ahead of the October election, but Riza said safety and comfort, accessibility and transport, and supporting small businesses and investment in the city are top priorities. He said it would be one of the
“My vision for the future is to bring life back to the city,” she said.
“While this is a local government election, it is linked to the state, so if we win locally and win the state, we are confident that we will deliver a safer Victoria and a safer Melbourne. ”
