Victoria’s 79 councils and their peak body, the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), have identified 42 priority commitments sought from all political parties contesting the state election in November to help build the economy and improve Victoria’s liveability.

The local government Call to Parties plan outlines a clear vision for Victoria. It is based on the principle that all Victorian communities should have equitable access to local community services and infrastructure regardless of where they live.

• Download the Call to Parties: Victorian State Election 2018 (PDF - 2.4MB)
• Download the Call to Parties: Victorian State Election 2018 (Word - 5.6MB)
• Download the one-page summary (pictured right) Local government’s vision for Victoria (PDF - 7.0MB)

Community impacts

The 42 priority policy changes and funding requests sought from political parties contesting the upcoming state election will help to achieve seven related goals:

• Share Victoria’s population growth
• Transform local service delivery
• Improve liveability
• Support resilient and cohesive communities
• Provide fair and equal opportunities for all
• Maintain and improve assets for the future
• Sustain our natural resources.

What you can do

1) Write to or email your local State Member of Parliament and election candidates asking them to commit to policies such as:

• Develop a population strategy to 2050 to guide long-term outcomes for our regions and reduce the impacts of Melbourne’s population growth
• Provide adequate community services and local infrastructure where and when people need them
• Develop and deliver an integrated transport strategy for Victoria and long-term targets for public transport, active transport and car transport
• Invest to develop and upgrade sporting and aquatics facilities to cater for the needs of diverse communities, including female focused sports
• Increase public and social housing to address our growing rates of homelessness
• Reinvest State landfill levies to support development and expansion of our local recycling and resource recovery industry
• Find your local Member of Parliament
• View current registered political parties in Victoria

2) Get active on Twitter and Facebook - and use the hashtags #localmatters and #VicElection2018 on your posts

• Follow Vic Councils on Twitter and Facebook and share our posts seeking #VicElection2018 commitments from political parties to specific actions
• Ask political parties and your local MP to support local priorities this state election (sample posts are provided below).

We have a vision for Victoria: grow the economy, improve liveability & support stronger communities. We’re calling on all #VicElection2018 political parties and candidates to support 42 actions. Find out more http://bit.ly/2GrlM94 #localmatters

We want the next Vic Government to develop a statewide population strategy 2050 to improve long-term outcomes for our regions & better manage urban population growth #localmatters #VicElection2018 http://bit.ly/2GrlM94

Victoria’s population is growing at historically rapid levels. We’re calling on all parties in the #VicElection2018 to ensure that community services & infrastructure can meet the needs of all Victorians regardless of where you live #localmatters

Congestion is grinding metro Melbourne to a halt. Victoria needs an integrated transport strategy & freight plan for our economy to grow, and to improve public transport access & connections. Support our #VicElection2018 plan http://bit.ly/2GrlM94 #localmatters

Community sports facilities need to be upgraded to keep pace with the massive growth in sports participation, particularly by women & girls. Help keep communities healthy and active by supporting our #VicElection2018 Call to Parties http://bit.ly/2GrlM94 #localmatters

The next Vic Government needs to provide more social and public housing to meet community needs and address the growing number of people experiencing homelessness #VicElection2018 http://bit.ly/2GrlM94 #localmatters

Public health and safety is a key issue in the #VicElection2018, and we are calling on all parties to improve community safety, and protect vulnerable communities from harms such as crime and gambling http://bit.ly/2GrlM94 #localmatters

Victoria’s waste and resource recovery system is under significant strain after more than a decade of underinvestment in our local system. We need political parties to commit to buy recycled materials & reinvest landfill levies this #VicElection2018 #localmatters

Campaign news

• Greens response to MAV Call to Parties (PDF - 392KB)
• State Election newsletter: Edition 4 (21 November)
• State Election newsletter: Edition 3 (8 November)
• MAV Opinion Editorial – Rules overhaul needed to reduce pokies pain (2 November)
• State Election newsletter: Edition 2 (24 October)
• State Election newsletter: Edition 1 (10 October)
• Call for political parties to support stronger communities (8 October)
• Recycling crisis was a wake-up call (Op Ed: Ballarat Courier, Bendigo Advertiser, Border Mail, Warrnambool Standard, Wimmera Mail Times – 6 October)
• Plan needed to improve regional liveability (Op Ed: Warrnambool Standard, Ballarat Courier, Border Mail – 7 September)
• Call for political parties to improve assets for the future (20 August)
• Call for State political parties to improve liveability (31 July)
• Equal access to local services needed for all Victorians (27 June)
• Parliament urged to oppose reforms that will hurt communities (19 June)
• Councils seek action to improve the economy and liveability (17 May)
• The Alliance for Gambling Reform's 2018 state election policy summary (PDF - 70.5KB)
• MAV guidelines for councillors contesting state or federal elections (Word - 72.2KB)

Campaign videos

Councillors discussing matters on the Call to Parties document that is relevant to their communities are available for viewing on our Local matters video page.