Special envoy hears community call for urgent action
By Southern Women’s Action Network
The federal government Special Envoy for Housing and Homelessness, Josh Burns MP, attended Roundtable 2 hosted by the Southern Women’s Action Network (SWAN) in Mornington last Thursday. In a packed room filled with over 40 local leaders and decision-makers, including community service providers, housing groups, local and state government departments, philanthropy and service clubs, the Special Envoy was told the alarming facts about the housing crisis and homelessness problem on the Mornington Peninsula.
Presentations from Mornington Peninsula Shire, community support centres and the Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula clearly made the case that the housing and homelessness situation locally is at its worst ever.
The Special Envoy heard that the local area had the highest recorded homelessness figures in Victoria and that the numbers are continuing to increase. Meanwhile neither state nor federal government have provided financial and services support. The evidence presented showed that our area, compared to like-areas, is clearly being disadvantaged in funding allocations for outreach worker support and Big Build funding.
Especially powerful was a heart-felt plea from the only outreach worker* on the peninsula, for help for the people sleeping rough on our foreshore who, despite the huge efforts of local community support centres, are languishing without hope of ever living in a home. Burns acknowledged that this is an intolerable situation and that no-one deserves to live without hope.
Burns also acknowledged that the situation on the Mornington Peninsula is clearly both disturbing and in need of urgent attention. The Special Envoy provided the forum with information about new government funding rounds that could be accessed. He referred to the shovel-ready project for women in crisis, that has been designed by the shire, together with input from community support and housing providers, and backed by the local community, to be built on council land in Rosebud.
A question-and-answer session targeted the need for the Special Envoy and governments at all levels to urgently look at how the Mornington Peninsula’s dire and unique situation can be better recognised by government departments and in funding rounds. There was a clear and united call from all Roundtable 2 attendees for action, not words, from the federal Government.
- The only outreach worker on the peninsula is employed with philanthropic funds, not financed by government. Currently, SWAN and the shire are requesting that government fund three outreach workers for our area.
Ambulance experience a disgrace and a shambles
I had been asked to check on the wellbeing of a friend. The fact that she had not answered her phone all day was of concern.
On arrival I found her immobile, weak, bedding stained and obviously very ill.
I rang 000 in a panic, was told to check for signs of a stroke, which was clear, and told to stay with her and if she vomited to turn her on her side and ring 000 again.
Red Hill is hardly metropolitan and we have two ambulance stations in Mornington so where were they?
They said they would send a link to my phone and talk me through the procedure to allow them to assess the situation. I am left looking at a blank screen with the link not appearing. In any case at 90 years I am not tech savvy.
Further advice that an ambulance was 20kms away. Later that it had been diverted. Asked to give the patient the phone so they could speak to her, she was too weak to hold the phone or speak.
At this stage friends arrived, and the decision was made to take her to Rosebud Emergency. More manpower was called for, and we carried her out and placed her on the back seat of the car.
On arrival, there was concern expressed that she may not survive the night.
The next afternoon doctors thought she was stable enough to be transferred to ICU in Frankston Hospital where she is still undergoing medical care.
What a disgrace, what a shambles! Has the Australia I knew become no better than a third world country in providing adequate health services to residents?
The excellent help provided by doctors, nurses and staff at Rosebud Hospital is gratefully acknowledged by all involved.
Beverley Treloar, Mt Martha
Sea power?
Complaints about solar and wind farms, that they are ugly, intrusive, destroying forests and wildlife also distant requiring expensive transmission lines and only effective when it’s sunny or windy have some validity.
Tides however are always running. In Westernport Bay we have strong tidal movements four times each day, every day (thus virtually constant power generation available 24/7).
I’m not an engineer but I have long thought that a series of submerged turbines with seafloor cabling to a large battery installation on the nearby mainland appears to me a possible reliable, cost effective and unobtrusive energy generation source (marine life welfare being a major design element).
There is research happening in this field but very little information appears in the media.
Is it feasible? Your thoughts?
Bruce Wearing-Smith, Somers
Solar rebates
While I appreciate Amy Hiller’s enthusiasm for solar and battery systems (Solar power, Letters 18/11/25), it seems a rather important detail has been overlooked.
The rapid uptake of rooftop solar and home batteries did not happen in a vacuum. It was made possible, in large part, by substantial government subsidies, rebates, and incentives totalling hundreds of millions of dollars that helped ordinary households afford the initial outlay she refers to.
Australians have indeed “got on with the job,” but they were able to do so because successive governments, of all political colours, invested heavily in these programs. Credit should be shared where it is due. An honest discussion of our energy future is essential, but it should include the whole picture, not just the parts that suit the moment.
Anne Kruger, Rye
Chemical contaminants
Your excellent article (Peninsula estuary tops list of chemical contaminants, The News 18/11/25) was alarming enough about Mornington Peninsula waterways being badly affected with chemical pollutants.
However the revelation that much of the detected contaminants originate from the use of herbicides, fungicides and insecticides in the region’s agricultural sector, is of further concern.
We are encouraged to seek food products locally for personal use and in our restaurants and cafés. We are entitled to know if such chemicals named, eg : Tebuconazole, Propiconazole and Simazine, have residual impact within the fruits, vegetables and meat produced locally.
Testing for this possibility is surely the next step.
Brian Boyd, Rye
Climate data
I read with interest the letter from Mr Mitchelson, (Climate Inquiry, Letters 11/11/2025) where he questions the accuracy of the 1850 reference data for global temperature change measurements.
His words “limited locations, crude measurements and methodology of those days”. In ‘those days’ the scientific community and others were very active in data collection and I would have thought that data would be available from a great many locations.
Could Mr. Mitchelson advise us as to what those limited locations were?
“Crude measurements” seems strange; after all, Fahrenheit invented the mercury-in-glass thermometer in 1714 and had remained the standard for two centuries.
“Methodology”, well – Maxwell calculated the speed of light in 1867 and this was confirmed by experiment a few years later. The methodology of “those days” could not have been too bad.
Kevin Sack, Somers
Not at any cost
Arguably, Australia’s shift to renewables and the new critical minerals deal with the US, is driving the biggest transformation since post-settlement land clearing, the gold rush, and the coal and gas booms.
The proposed renewable energy terminal at the Port of Hastings — involving dredging and 16.5 hectares of land reclamation — is a local example.
Increasingly, local councils must grapple with complex decisions (Councillors back submission on Port of Hastings renewable energy plan, The News 18/11/2025).
Although former federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek initially blocked the project because its impacts on Western Port would be “clearly unacceptable”, earlier calls for the state government to “develop a strategic framework” for the area remain pressing (Calls for Western Port ‘framework, The News 30/4/2024).
In an open letter to state ministers, the Victorian National Parks Association, Environment Victoria, Western Port Biosphere, Save Westernport and the Phillip Island Conservation Society urged the government to implement a marine spatial plan for Western Port — a key pillar of the Western Port Framework — ensure scoping requirements align with the Marine and Coastal Act 2018, and compare alternative sites. Industrial disturbance to an internationally significant Ramsar wetland, even at the Port of Hastings, should be avoided wherever possible.
Ray Peck, Hawthorn
Locals only?
As your paper is a local one for residents of the Mornington Peninsula I am wondering why you print letters from residents of suburbs many kilometres from here. Last week there were three and have been as many in past editions.
They are mostly related to opinions on climate change. Is there a pattern here?
Do we, the local residents need yet more opinions on this controversial subject? It would be good if the letters can be from local residents only.
Tina Bennett, Somerville
Editor’s note: Thanks for your letter Tina. I think as one of the writers at MPNG it is always encouraging when we get letters from further afield. Perhaps it is an indication that our articles are worthy enough to be sought out by people that live elsewhere. Maybe they are holidaying here and an article has caught their eye.
The truth is that once you have written an article, it is quite addictive seeing who reads it, and the feedback they have on it.
We are in our 20th year here, and there are plenty of stories. There is one story I’d like to share with you.
One morning I posted our annual April Fools Day article. I then logged on to the “Google Analytics” service where you could view a map of the world, and see dots appear right across the globe where people were opening the probably ridiculous story, and reading it with suitable outrage until it dawned on them it was an April Fools Day joke.
One of features of the Google Analytics map was that you could hover your mouse above a dot and see the place names right across the globe. Far away places, where someone was reading the story.
Suddenly, a dot appeared on the left of the screen and steadily moved across to the right. Then again, and again. Perplexed, I hovered the mouse the best I could over the moving object and the location came up “International Space Station”.
It was hard to believe but it was right in front of me! Until I realised that I, the April Fooler, was being April Fooled myself!
The moral of the story? We welcome readers, and their contributions, from everywhere. Even the International Space Station. – Cameron
Council planning?
Dromana has a swish new square, brown shopping centre with rejigged parking. We’re moving up in the world! Australia is known to heat up in summer and asphalt is known to raise temperatures. But instead of cooling us by planting a few shade trees in the garden beds surrounding the car park, they have planted some grasses. Maybe the trees are still coming?
Then there is still Hillview Reserve, with all its anomalies. Before the path and playground were built the council had accepted the plans without any drainage plans. This oversight delayed the project for months.
When the path was built, the problem of cyclists speeding downhill on paths shared with walkers and off leash dogs began. Despite the pleas and complaints about the dangers, nothing has been done to rectify this situation. In fact the council officer who rang me months after I had brought this matter up, and who assured me the cyclists would be re-routed from the new carpark, up the field and across to their mountain bike tracks without using our paths, seems to have been simply relaying my dream to me.
Since then, a new bike rack and bike fixing thingy has been installed at the old carpark, encouraging cyclists to go exactly where the walkers and dogs go. No new signage advising cyclists to slow down has even appeared.
We have a wonderful new playground and should be grateful that in a few years perhaps, when the trees have grown, it might not be too hot in summer to play there. At 30 degrees the rubber ground coating is baking hot, as is the bouldering equipment. Considering the price paid, a large shade sail or two might have been in order.
Just how much do the planners of the shire think ahead?
Paula Polson, Dromana
Shire youth workforce
Mornington Peninsula Shire has quietly announced the removal of all in-house youth workers across the Rosebud, Mornington, and Hastings youth hubs, with every staff member finishing on 19 December. Families were not told this. Many only learned the truth when they attended a “feedback session,” where they were explicitly informed the decision had already been made.
These hubs support young people aged ten to 26, many of whom rely on the workers as their only stable and trusted adults. Several young people stood up in that session to say they were unsure if they could keep attending without the workers who had supported them since primary school.
Council intends to operate the hubs with a casual workforce over summer and Term One, before handing them to an unknown external provider/s through a short-cycle tender. This model is known to create churn, undercutting, and weak oversight — the opposite of what youth work requires.
The Rosebud hub has been open for less than a year. Now the relationships that give that facility any value are being cut with no transition plan and no transparency, justified by a “strategic assessment” that the community is not allowed to see.
This is a complete breakdown of good governance and a direct risk to vulnerable young people. The shire must halt this plan and commit to a proper public process before more harm is done.
Kylie Martin, Rosebud
Journalistic integrity
Three cheers for the editor of our local paper. Last week there was a letter in support of the development of the Arthurs Seat chairlift (The Eagle Upgrade, Letters 18/11/25).
It was similar in style to three previous ones.
It was refreshing and reassuring to see a note by the editor advising that a Google search of the authors revealed all four letters were written by employees and directors of the same commercial contracting company.
Louise Page, Tyabb
Lack of integrity
I am writing in response to the three letters written in supporting the Arthurs Seat Eagle upgrade (We support Arthur Seat Eagle Upgrade, Letters 5/11/25).
I am a long time reader, first time writer, and a local resident here on the Mornington Peninsula for ten years.
I am curious, did the ASE pay to have those letters printed in their own ‘section’ of the Letters page, bordered and set with a picture?
What was clearly marketing, thinly disguised as an editorial..? I say shame.
Are Long Contracting are hoping to be the construction team? Not exactly impartial is it? All three letters that could potentially profit, no matter the scar, falsely wrapped up in a border to look like an article for the paper, instead of just free advertising.
To be clear, my stance is thus: The development being proposed is absolutely heinous.
To think such an ugly scar on Arthurs Seat should be supported by locals, and possibly bulldozed ahead by a Victorian minister who is only thinking of the funds being channelled… I despair.
The gorgeous bushland, surrounded by ocean and bay is home to so many beautiful native animals and birds.
We need to consider the true impact on the local flora and fauna and the residents who choose to live here, year round, for just that beautiful reason.
The luge is not necessary, it will take away bushland for profit and “create” minimal employment, but at what cost?
I say shame to the people supporting this ugly development and the traffic despair it will cause.
A private development on public bushland? Not wanted.
Fleur Rodda, Rosebud
Farewell
I was saddened to read of the passing of Dr Doug Johnson (Dr Doug Johnson – Family man, respected doctor and friend to many, The News 18/11/25) as he has been an inspiration to all of us.
His commitment to his patients, and advances in GP medicine, the environment, to gardening and of course, to Di and his family, made him one of those treasures we need in today’s world.
He was the Warden for parishioners at St Peters Anglican Church for years and tried his best to keep all connected and satisfied.
When you spoke with Doug, you always felt he gave his full attention to you and was calm and supportive.
He and Di established a garden that was an example of what you can do even in retirement! We will miss his loving being. Sincere condolences and love to Di and his family.
Jan Oliver, Mornington
Liberal climate plan?
In recent media criticizing Labor Party announcements around COP31, MP Zoe McKenzie states that she is concerned about the implications for our Pacific neighbours to whom Australia has “a special duty to” in terms of climate change adaptation and mitigation, and that they “need our help, support and advocacy” in this context and in participating in COP31 negotiations.
What exactly is the Liberal Party’s plan to “help and support” our Pacific neighbours to mitigate climate change?
It’s remarkable that this concern is expressed days after scrapping their Net Zero policy and vaguely committing to “cut emissions, on average, year on year”.
That’s not a policy, it’s a non-committal tagline to placate moderate voters leaving the party in droves.
The Pacific Islands have been screaming at Australia for decades: “drastically cut emissions, phase out fossil fuels and lead the rest of the world to do so, or we go under”.
They deserve to see concrete Australian federal policy that reflects this – even as they now face less than 25 years left on their homelands, and even as Tuvalu residents are already migrating to Australia under the climate change necessitated Falepili Mobility Pathway.
Pacific Island states and their climate civil society movement are not budging from calling for policies that hold the line at 1.5C of warming – any decision maker stating we have a special duty of care to Pacific (and Torres Strait) Islanders should be amplifying these calls, not undermining them.
Karli Baker, Dromana
Lesson not learned
The Liberals think they have taken a page out of Zohran Mamdani’s recent thumping of the establishment in the New York mayoral race with their “new policy focusing on affordability rather than emissions reductions”.
Then “Ley flags immigration as the next policy battleground”: I continue to get no response to my challenges to them, one and all.
But they missed many of the bigger issues that made Mamdani’s campaign a success. Distrust of the political duopoly system. Position on Gaza and Israel. Running a very ambitious, progressive (“democratic socialist”) campaign. Calls for more investment in publicly owned renewable energy. Combining progressive economic policies (taxing the rich) with strong social goals (LGBTQIA+ rights, immigrant support). Food Access. Rent Freeze. More funding for public schools, integrated student bodies, mental health services, and strong after-school programs.
He supports increasing investment in CUNY (City University of New York), possibly making it tuition-free, and improving staff pay/infrastructure. And to take over some roles like responding to mental health crisis calls, freeing up police for other duties.
Oh, I forgot that COALition are only interested in illiberal populist issues.
It is noteworthy that Mamdani successfully took out not only the Republicans but also the corroded corporate Democrats. Guess that makes him an independent (not Teal)!
Most, including some myopic independent movements will miss the subtlety of the whole episode and only concentrate on the headlines rather than deep diving into the detail and innuendos. Word of warning: That will not work!
Joe Lenzo, Safety Beach
Welcomed Treaty
I too am celebrating the new Treaty, recently signed between the First and Second Peoples of this wonderful State of Victoria.
We are one of the very few settler countries from the Imperial Age who have not yet properly concluded legal and just treaties.
It was the Communist leader Mao Zedong who said that “political power comes from the barrel of a gun”. I find it strange that conservatives in Australia, who oppose such a Treaty, espouse the same philosophy – that those who took the land by the power of their guns still have the political power to deny true justice to the descendants of the people we dispossessed.
This Treaty gives us all the opportunity to re-set the power imbalance. We can legally treat one another as equals.
Of course, many Treaty opponents have great personal relationships with indigenous people. But more is needed – society wide structural relationships that can redress the balance and provide the context for us to all work together to ‘close the gap’.
This Treaty will only divide us if we individually take divisive stances and allow negative objections to fester within us.
Long live the treaty!
Eric Smith, Aspendale Gardens
War on Treaty
Albert Riley seems to be carrying-out a one-man campaign against self-determination for First Peoples. I have read three of his letters in consecutive editions of The News and feel compelled to write that I disagree with his values, insults and history.
Mr Riley doesn’t believe that slavery happened and that language and culture were stolen. He does admit that “unacceptable treatment by some of their ancestors by others of their ancestors” did happen but believes that is all in the past.
People living in the Mornington Peninsula need to know that Bunurong/Boon Wurrung women and children were kidnapped and enslaved from the early 1800’s until the mid-1830’s by sealers who set up in the Bass Strait Islands. There have been numerous other crimes committed against First Peoples since colonisation.
While it is true many First Peoples have some European genes but it has to be acknowledged that during First Contact days and well beyond that this was often because of rape and exploitation and not choice. If First Peoples choose to keep their Aboriginal heritage, culture and communities, it is their right to do so.
Shamefully, racism, trauma and disadvantage is not just in the past but continues today.
There have been more than 70 pieces of legislation about Indigenous People passed in Victoria since colonisation without consultation with them. The new Treaty era means that this will no longer happen.
This is our opportunity to acknowledge the wrongs that have happened in the past, re-set relationships and respectfully share First People’s rich, ancient culture and knowledge with them. We need to open our minds and hearts and celebrate Treaty.
Joan Doyle, Dromana
Barley-Charlie@89
Salt and weevils? Don’t kill time, it’s precious. Live to my age and regret sneaks in.
Transparency and accountability, the expectation of our councillors to inform us? Sounds good, in reality a nonsense, restrictions, aka “up to a point” not to mention the AI influence, aka big brother, machine answers. Maybe improve, sooner, probably, hopefully.
The better news, Christmas approaches, delivering we voters clean air (politically) until February.
Here on our Mornington Peninsula we may even see action on our roads; if cars must be roadworthy to drive on them why not our potholes?
Such is life; as in reverting to my special interests, namely television (cricket), beer (thirst), cricket (c’mon c’mon), the RSL (respite) and hope, a necessity, in defence of the dreaded last leg in life’s quadrella; fear.
Deeper thoughts sneak in; years back, real, Bunratty Castle, (not County Clare), theatre restaurant days, rough and ready, loved by the plebs, consistent overuse of the word (still is) ‘Incredible’?
Adore this one, for red/sore eyes. Baby shampoo, 9 parts water, bathe the eyelids, eyelashes every night, thin smear of Vaseline to eyelids after drying off.
No mention of my tremor? In truth all is serene, breathing from the diaphragm, day upon day, laughter. Barley dropped by, with carrot cake, cappuccino. “You need company old man, why sit here alone every day?” Spot on.
Positivity or reality: If Collingwood beats St Kilda, March 6, 7.20pm, I’ll give away the smokes.
Warning; what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Except for bears, bears will kill you. Likewise crocodiles, aka politicians. Mind how you go…
Cliff Ellen, Rye
