Rachel Westaway MP

I spoke with The Age about the importance of protecting our heritage civic halls and giving them a new lease on life as vibrant community spaces.

These buildings are more than historic landmarks, they are part of our local identity. But too many are sitting underutilised while communities miss out on valuable gathering places, cultural venues and economic opportunities.

By bringing together government, councils, community groups and the private sector, we can preserve these treasured buildings, activate them for future generations and ensure they remain at the heart of community life.

Our heritage should be celebrated, not left to deteriorate.

Read more below⬇️

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/dust-decay-and-a-multimillion-dollar-bill-the-battle-to-save-melbourne-s-forgotten-town-halls-20260525-p600fi.html

Celebrating young people who go above and beyond in our community is always something special.

It was a pleasure to present Student Recognition Awards at the IELLEN AGM and acknowledge students showing leadership, initiative and a commitment to making a difference.

IELLEN plays such an important role in supporting young people through local learning and employment networks, helping students build confidence, skills and pathways for the future. Programs and organisations like this are vital in connecting education with real opportunities and ensuring no young person is left behind.

Congratulations to all the award recipients and thank you to the IELLEN team for the work you do to support the next generation.

Politics is at its best when young people are engaged and asking tough questions.

Great to join David Southwick MP, Monique Ryan MP and Josh Burns MP at King David School to discuss leadership, representation and public service from across the political spectrum.

A fantastic conversation with thoughtful and engaged students.

Chapel Street is one of Melbourne’s most iconic destinations, and I’m committed to making sure local businesses have the support they need to thrive.

Today, I welcomed Shadow Minister for Police Brad Battin MP to Prahran to meet with local operators including Revolver, Mr Simple, Evolve Skate Store, Rose Valet Dry Cleaning and AS Colour to hear directly about the challenges they’re facing and what government can do better.

We spoke about the need to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, reduce unnecessary red tape, and ease the pressure of costs like payroll tax, insurance that are hurting small businesses.

The Liberals are committed to restoring safety and confidence across Victoria with 3,000 more police and 200 additional PSOs, because businesses, workers and visitors deserve to feel safe in our precincts.

Backing local businesses means backing jobs, investment and the future of Chapel Street. We’re committed to making sure this precinct continues to thrive for years to come.