Focus on Community, Small Business Support, and Family-Friendly Initiatives to Boost Melbourne's Future.
Roshena Campbell, a deputy mayoral candidate for the upcoming City of Melbourne elections, is committed to enhancing Melbourne’s vibrancy, inclusivity, and economic growth. Drawing on her extensive legal background as a barrister and personal experience as the daughter of small business owners, Campbell aims to make Melbourne a top destination for families and businesses alike. Her platform focuses on key areas including community, safety, small business support, and family-friendly initiatives.
Melbourne’s Vibrancy and Inclusivity: A Priority
To ensure Melbourne remains vibrant and inclusive, Roshena Campbell emphasizes getting the basics right, such as cleanliness and safety. The city’s cleaning team now operates 24/7, with individual responsibility assigned to each block. Offensive graffiti is removed within an hour of reporting. The city is also addressing homelessness by opening the Make Room facility, which will provide 50 beds for those sleeping rough.
Leveraging Legal Expertise for Melbourne’s Growth
Drawing from her background as a barrister, Roshena prioritizes listening to residents and traders to address and being their advocate on council. She cites the success of the Melbourne Money initiative, which provided $10 million in restaurant vouchers and boosted the local economy by nearly $100 million, as a key example of how government initiatives can positively impact businesses.
Engaging Melbourne’s Diverse Communities
As an Australian of Indian origin, Roshena is committed to representing Melbourne’s diverse community. She actively supports multicultural events like Buddha’s Day, Diwali, and Lunar New Year, reinforcing her commitment to inclusivity and cultural celebration. She will shortly be announcing a package to support Melbourne’s multicultural communities, acknowledging the massive contribution they make to the city’s vibrancy and culture.
Supporting Small Businesses and Boosting Jobs
Roshena, whose parents were small business owners, understands the challenges faced by traders. She champions the Business Concierge service at Town Hall, which has cut red tape and halved the time required to start a business in Melbourne. She also highlights the importance of events in driving visitation and supporting local businesses, such as the Now or Never Festival, which generated a $14 million economic impact and created 1,500 jobs.
Collaborating Despite Differences
Roshena believes in open and respectful discussions within the council. She is committed to listening to the community, considering evidence, and being a strong advocate for residents and traders, even when opinions differ among councillors.
Making Melbourne Family-Friendly
As a mother, Roshena is passionate about making Melbourne a top destination for families. She has supported family-friendly events like the New Year’s Eve fireworks and the Moomba festival. Her efforts also include investing in family spaces like the narrm ngarrgu Library at Queen Victoria Market and the Lincoln Square playground. Additionally, she supports initiatives like affordable $2 pool entries to ease the cost of living for families.
- G’day India