News
It is important for the community to have as much information as possible about all candidates to make the best decisions regarding who will represent us for the next four years in the Nepean Ward
Responses have been received from Eddie Matt, Andrea Allen, Susan Bissinger, Josie Jones and Suzanne Jones and are included below.
Response
from Eddie Matt
Thank you for contacting me. I'm very happy to respond to your questions, and for any further information please feel free to visit my website: Eddie Matt for Nepean Ward Mornington Peninsula Council elections 2024
In addition, I'd be pleased to meet with The Nepean
Ratepayers Association, and I am always happy to speak on the phone.
Being a Councillor provides the opportunity to lead
the community and bring new and fresh ideas that will benefit all residents
into the future. What is your number one reason for wanting to be a councillor?
I have always been community minded, and I want to support
and advocate on behalf of our community to positively represent the future
direction and outcomes for the Shire. I have a lot to offer having been part of
the community for the last fifty years. I have a wealth of local knowledge, and
my background in business, volunteering, farming and raising my family in our
township affords me great insight into our community, it's history, unique
environment and varied demographics.
Being a Councillor requires commitment, responsibility
and accountability. What personal experience, skills and attributes do you have
that will make you a great councillor?
I possess a strong commitment to community service which I
think is most easily demonstrated through my many years of service in the CFA.
My personal experience with managing my team as Captain of Rye Fire Brigade and
as Peninsula Group Officer (overseeing the fire brigades of Rye, Boneo,
Sorrento, Rosebud, Mt Martha, Main Ridge and Flinders) have equipped me
with skills to prioritise transparency in my actions and decisions to be
accountable, regularly communicating with my team and keeping them informed and
involved. I am responsible for the management of my team and their personal
safety, along with the safety of community members in dynamic and at times
dangerous situations, and an ability to respond promptly and effectively within
the guidelines of our organisation is essential to my role.
The community you represent consists of groups and
individuals with diverse views and priorities. How will you consider all points
of view, while actively empowering voices that are marginalised or
underrepresented, to determine the most appropriate priorities and actions to
benefit the whole community?
I would look for opportunities to engage with stakeholders
and form strategies to engage with groups through community organisations,
local events etc. A regular catch up on a weekday to listen and discuss issues
that need attention and a chance to talk to people in the community is
critical. During this election process community groups such as yours
have reached out to candidates which gives me a good idea of who is engaged in
local issues and these groups are a great source of getting to know the concerns
that they have identified in Nepean Ward and across the Shire. My experiences
in CFA as a Government agency I'd expect have similar systems of governance
that the Shire use. I'd expect to hold and be part of community consultation,
and advisory committees with diverse members such as people from marginalised
backgrounds to guide decision making processes and make sure their voices are
heard. The Shire has produced a draft strategy called We All Belong strategy
2024-2029, with 2100 community members contributing. Its initiatives such as
this that help shape the community we live in and a process to aid in engaging
meaningfully with the whole community.
Councillors need to work collaboratively with
community groups, members of the community, shire management and staff, and
other councillors to achieve their objectives. What experience do you have with
consultation, collaboration and persuasion to deliver effective decisions and
outcomes?
I have excellent problem-solving abilities, strong
communication skills and I'm highly adept at community engagement. My
experience in organising and managing my team as Captain and Group Officer in
CFA has honed my ability to listen to diverse perspectives and deal with their
individual needs. I am able to work with various stakeholders, fostering
partnerships that drive positive change. I'm highly experienced
in coordinating and chairing meetings, engaging with large groups and
being part of a group that have similar interests.
We believe that councillors have an important role to
play in ensuring good governance, facilitating responsible financial
management, and advocating for fair and appropriate distribution and use of
resources across the Shire. What is your experience with ensuring transparency
in decision making and financial and resource management?
My experience includes holding meetings where stakeholders
can discuss and be part of the decision-making process on procurement and
budgeting, publishing minutes of financial reports and overseeing financial
reporting procedures from public funds. I'm sure to articulate any project
funding process, engaging with all relevant parties and departments to get
approvals for equipment and capital works.
Looking forward to further discussions,
Regards,
Eddie Matt for Nepean Ward
Response from Andrea Allen
Thanks for the opportunity to share my responses with your members and others who view your site.
FYI I also have a website with some detail on why I want to be the next Nepean Ward councillor and some detail about me. www.andreaallennepeanward.com
1. Being a Councillor provides the opportunity to lead the community and bring new and fresh ideas that will benefit all residents into the future. What is your number one reason for wanting to be a councillor?
My number one reason for wanting to be a councillor is to address the poor community satisfaction results for Mornington Peninsula Shire, which I believe is largely due to not focusing on delivering core services such as roads and general maintenance to a high standard. While I’m motivated by Shire wide issues, I’ve had a lifelong association with Rye and Blairgowrie and couldn’t contemplate running for another ward that I’m not as familiar with, or passionate about.
2. Being a Councillor requires commitment, responsibility and accountability. What personal experience, skills and attributes do you have that will make you a great councillor?
I have a Bachelor of Arts/Commerce from Monash University and a Master of Taxation from UNSW. Completing a post-graduate degree in Taxation demonstrates a commitment to finish what I start.
I had a 14 year career in the Federal public service including 18 months as a Departmental Liaison Officer in a Minister’s Office. This role involved acting as a conduit between the Department and the Minister’s office, similar to a Councillor connecting the local community and the Shire. Thanks to my time in the public service, I am able to navigate bureaucracy and understand how to work within that setting to get results.
I am conscientious, pay attention to detail and like to be very thorough when making decisions.
3. The community you represent consists of groups and individuals with diverse views and priorities. How will you consider all points of view, while actively empowering voices that are marginalised or underrepresented, to determine the most appropriate priorities and actions to benefit the whole community?
I intend to be as accessible as possible to all Nepean ward ratepayers, residents and community groups. I’m fortunate to be in a position to be a full time councillor and invest the time necessary to canvas a broad range of views on issues. I plan to do this by reinstating the community coalition that ran for many years prior to the most recent term of council. I will also make myself available for regular face to face listening posts with individuals.
I will do the necessary research to fully understand issues, including the consequences for all those impacted. My aim will be to find measured solutions that may require a bit more effort, but are preferable to ‘picking winners’ and causing division.
4. Councillors need to work collaboratively with community groups, members of the community, shire management and staff, and other councillors to achieve their objectives. What experience do you have with consultation, collaboration and persuasion to deliver effective decisions and outcomes?
I was involved in many consultation processes during my public service career, including for the implementation of the controversial mining tax. This included stakeholders such as the Minerals Council of Australia and representatives from each of the big 4 consulting firms. Having the right people in the room is important, as well as sharing as much information as possible to minimise any assumptions and make the process worthwhile.
More recently I managed to persuade council officers to undertake consultation on their proposed changes to leash free areas for dogs. I highlighted multiple commitments that this would occur and called them out when they tried to confuse matters by referring to consultation planned for later stages. This involved a lot of back and forth over a short period of time prior to a council meeting and eventually drafting amendments for a councillor to move. In a recent social media post the Shire indicated that they received “lots of responses” to the consultation. The community input was definitely necessary as there were concerns raised with some of the proposed changes.
5. We believe that councillors have an important role to play in ensuring good governance, facilitating responsible financial management, and advocating for fair and appropriate distribution and use of resources across the Shire. What is your experience with ensuring transparency in decision making and financial and resource management?
I was involved in two federal budget processes as the Departmental Liaison Officer in the Assistant Treasurer’s office and one in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Knowing the very long lead times involved in the Federal budget has made me skeptical of the Shire’s budget consultation processes in recent years. Consultation ending in mid March is far too late to be properly considered and incorporated into a budget ready for consideration at May council meetings.
Regards,
Andrea
0417 385 923
Response from Josie Jones
1. Being a Councillor provides the opportunity to lead the community and bring new and fresh ideas that will benefit all residents into the future. What is your number one reason for wanting to be a councillor?
My number one reason for wanting to be a councillor is to ensure that our community’s voice is heard and that local decision-making reflects the needs and values of the people who live here. I am passionate about protecting our natural environment, enhancing local services, and promoting sustainable growth while preserving the unique character of the Nepean Ward. I want to advocate for responsible governance that prioritizes community well-being, fosters inclusive opportunities, and ensures that our region remains a place where future generations can thrive. This is my chance to bring fresh ideas and a strong community-focused approach to council.
2. Being a Councillor requires commitment, responsibility and accountability. What personal experience, skills and attributes do you have that will make you a great councillor?I bring over two decades of experience in leadership roles across both the private and community sectors, where I have honed my skills in project management, creative direction, and environmental stewardship. My experience as a small business owner has given me a deep understanding of accountability, strategic decision-making, and the importance of transparent, responsible resource management. As an advocate for environmental sustainability, I’ve led several successful initiatives that have required collaboration with diverse stakeholders, from local councils to community groups. I’m persistent, dedicated, and known for my ability to drive positive outcomes while staying focused on long-term solutions that benefit the whole community.
3. The community you represent consists of groups and individuals with diverse views and priorities. How will you consider all points of view, while actively empowering voices that are marginalised or underrepresented, to determine the most appropriate priorities and actions to benefit the whole community?
I see the role of a councillor as a facilitator of community inclusion, ensuring that all perspectives are heard and considered. I will actively engage with different groups through open forums, community outreach, and individual consultations to create opportunities for all members to participate in shaping our future. By fostering open communication and collaboration, I will work to understand the diverse priorities across the community and find balanced solutions that reflect the broader needs of the Nepean Ward. My goal is to ensure that decisions are made transparently and inclusively, benefitting the whole community.
4. Councillors need to work collaboratively with community groups, members of the community, shire management and staff, and other councillors to achieve their objectives. What experience do you have with consultation, collaboration and persuasion to deliver effective decisions and outcomes?
I have extensive experience working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders, from local councils and environmental organizations to businesses and community groups. My work on initiatives like reducing beach litter through the Beach Hand Bin project involved close consultation with local government, community members, and environmental advocates, ensuring that all voices were considered in the decision-making process. The Beach Hand Bin was awarded the Australian Good Design Award for Social Impact on September 20th 2024.
As a project manager and advocate, I’ve learned the importance of building trust, fostering open communication, and using persuasive strategies to align diverse interests towards a common goal. This collaborative approach has been key to delivering effective, long-term outcomes for the community.
5. We believe that councillors have an important role to play in ensuring good governance, facilitating responsible financial management, and advocating for fair and appropriate distribution and use of resources across the Shire. What is your experience with ensuring transparency in decision making and financial and resource management?
Throughout my career, I have consistently prioritized transparency and accountability in decision-making and resource management. As a small business owner and project manager, I have been responsible for managing budgets, allocating resources efficiently, and ensuring clear communication with stakeholders. My work on community-led environmental projects, such as pilots home collections programs run through local councils, required me to be open and transparent in how funds and resources were used, ensuring that all decisions were in the best interest of the community.
I believe in providing clear, accessible information to the public and fostering trust by ensuring that all decisions are made with accountability and fairness.
Response from Susan Bissinger
1.Being a Councillor provides the opportunity to lead the community and bring new and fresh ideas that will benefit all residents into the future. What is your number one reason for wanting to be a councillor? My primary reason for being a councillor is to tangibly improve our area and unify our community. I think outside the box, so am continually bringing fresh ideas and suggestions including how we can fund vital works by tapping into our community through donations, fundraising and govt grants. Our area has been neglected for decades and unless we take the reins we will continue to deteriorate, we have already come together to create plans now we just need to get them moving.Transparency is not difficult, just don't hide anything! In council I have clearly voted for and strongly debated real transparency every single time, I do not want to see curated reports from officers under the guise of “transparency”. Our residents are smart and need to make up their own mind.
Susan Bissinger
1. Being a Councillor provides the opportunity to
lead the community and bring new and fresh ideas that will benefit all
residents into the future. What is your number one reason for wanting to be a councillor?
My number one reason for wanting to be a councillor is to make
a difference and advocate for the Nepean Ward Community. I will listen to the
stakeholders, understand their needs and then work out the best way moving
forward to get things done. There’s so much rhetoric and not enough action.
2. Being a Councillor requires commitment,
responsibility and accountability. What personal experience, skills and
attributes do you have that will make you a great councillor?
A great Councillor is someone who again listens to their
community and is aware of what is happening across their entire community not
just the pocket in which they live. They have their finger on the pulse and are
part of the community themselves. For those who have worked with me or know me
they will vouch that I get things done and take on responsibilities and
accountabilities with every task. I started my career as a Journalist in
Melbourne and a broadcaster. This was a very high-pressure environment to get
the facts, make decisions to deliver news and information to the public on
tight deadlines. Accountability, commitment and responsibility every day. I
then moved into Public Relations (keeping people in or out of the media)
including crisis management, media training and stakeholder, community
engagement. I ran my own business consulting to high profile national companies
and organisations. I was a working Mum with three children who I educated
through private school. This was my choice.
I mention this to demonstrate the drive I needed to get the job done and
meet all my financial responsibilities. I added full time student back in 2010
at the same time as I was running my business as I wanted to advance my
learning with the Master of Arts (RMIT). I have consulted for all levels of
government on both political sides. I am interested in people and their
stories. I am a podcaster where I learn so much from interviewing my guests as
everyone has a story. I am a funeral celebrant where I am honoured to be able
to be with a family and listen and ensure their loved one is given a send-off
they would have wanted. Council would be my way of giving back to the
community.
3. The community you represent consists of groups
and individuals with diverse views and priorities. How will you consider all
points of view, while actively empowering voices that are marginalised or
underrepresented, to determine the most appropriate priorities and actions to
benefit the whole community?
As a journalist it is second nature for me to seek out all
views and dig deeper. How often do we hear the sugar-coated answers we want to
hear and through asking more questions and scratching the surface you get the
real answers and can better facilitate outcomes for all. It’s about taking the
time to meet the various groups on their terms and listening to their points of
view and communicating back to them on what actions have been taken and why.
Communication and timely follow ups are vital to keep engagement and empowering
all voices. Over my time I have fought
for marginalised groups with very proud outcomes that I would love to share if
any of you would like to phone me to hear more. I changed the legislation in Domestic
Violence sentencing when it came to victim impact statements. I helped a group
of non-English speaking traders wrongly locked out of their tenancies win a
case on the Federal Court. Both marginalised group examples where persistence
makes a big difference.
4. Councillors need to work collaboratively with
community groups, members of the community, shire management and staff, and
other councillors to achieve their objectives. What experience do you have with
consultation, collaboration and persuasion to deliver effective decisions and
outcomes?
In answering this questions an example that comes to mind is
working for the State Government several years ago on the Revitalisation of
Central Dandenong as the Communications and Marketing Manager. What a job! Five
infrastructure projects, hectares of compulsory acquisition, a housing estate,
within one of Australia’s largest multicultural environments. The stakeholders
from government to community groups, were huge and all had to be managed and
communicated with on their terms. I was the PR Manager at the Geelong Football
Club and again in a different setting the players, coaching, admin staff,
Board, sponsors, and public was a great example of working collaboratively and
managing the unexpected crisis that would pop up when you’d least expect it!
During my time at NAB in business engagement on a corporate level it was
working collaboratively with a huge corporate entity to dissect clear messaging
on the latest technology across a multitude of stakeholders. This role’s added
bonus was to be front of the line communication when there was an IT breakdown
that required communicating. I still break out in a sweat when I hear on the
news ATM’s have crashed as I know first-hand the collaboration and immediate
action that is required by so many
working together to fix a problem that has so many parts.
5. We believe that councillors have an important
role to play in ensuring good governance, facilitating responsible financial
management, and advocating for fair and appropriate distribution and use of
resources across the Shire. What is your experience with ensuring transparency
in decision making and financial and resource management?
Question five is what anyone would expect not only in all
levels of Government but in business in general. I wouldn’t still be in
business and working with clients if I didn’t have the above and that’s why I
find it so terribly frustrating the media reports on story after story where
there is the lack of transparency and little financial management in some
organisations. When consulting for government over the years I applied the
principle that if an FOI request came in for anything I was working on I would
be more than satisfied it would all be in order. I run all projects the same
way and that any emails I write could be shared on the noticeboard without
offending anyone.
We strongly encourage you to become involved with the group in your area.
Camerons Bight
Engaging the Nepean Ward in supporting a sustainable community