Nina Springle for South East Metro

First proposed in 1969, plans for a Rowville Rail Line are fully supported by the Greens and Knox Council, with Labor and the Liberals refusing commitment.

A $2 million ‘feasibility study’ estimated that plans couldn’t progress until rail capacity was built in Melbourne Rail Link and the Pakenham-Cranbourne line was upgraded. However, the Public Transport Users Association president, Tony Morton, asserted that only an upgrade to Pakenham-Cranbourne is required, as the capacity advantage provided by the Melbourne Rail Link is primarily to the Western suburbs, not the East. (Read more here)

The challenge with upgrading the Pakenham-Cranbourne line could be overcome through investment in new "high-capacity" signalling systems, such as those operating in cities around Europe. (See here for the full solution).

The Greens have supported the extension of the train line to Mernda for years and it's great to see Labor and the Liberals finally catch up. Now we need to see commitment to the Rowville Rail. 

Rowville Rail listed as the main issue for #Mulgrave, but only #Greens support it! #vicvotes #Green14 http://t.co/vqosmuL9Di

— Josh Fergeus (@JoshFergeus) November 17, 2014

With more Greens in parliament we WILL see this happen.

The latest data shows that the South East continues to embrace the solar industry!

Cranbourne, Narre Warren, Berwick & Frankston are in the top 15 most solar installations within Victoria. 

Cranbourne also had the most solar installations in the state this September (78, and 691 installations this year).

Renewables are the future of energy. An investment in solar is an investment for lower electricity bills, for a cleaner environment and more local jobs. 

The Greens have an evidence-based policy to ensure that more households are able to invest in solar. We're committed to establishing a solar bank, provide a fair price for solar feed-ins and make sure every solar household has the right to connect to the grid. 

The City of Greater Dandenong, along with the City of Monash and 77 other councils, have called on gambling reforms in Victoria. An "Enough Pokies" report shows that "Victoria's pokies are concentrated in areas of social and economic disadvantage. These are communities that can least afford to carry the burden" (Read more here). 

This directly affects our region here in the South East. 

Pokies are designed be addictive. Pokies are the largest cause of gambling harm in Australia. Gambling is strongly linked with mental and physical health issues. 

A Look at the numbers

there are 8.5 pokies per 1000 people in Greater Dandenong - the most disadvantaged council of the 31 metro councils in Melbourne.

In comparison, the City of Boroondara has 1.5 pokies per 1000 people - the 30th least disadvantaged council. 

What does this mean? This is an industry which explicitly targets and exploits low socioeconomic areas. 

In Greater Dandenong, each adult spends on average $984 per year on pokies. $2.5 billion is lost in pokies throughout Victoria. Almost $7 million going out of the wallets of Victorians and into pokies in a single day. 

This figure shows that the Keysborough Hotel, located in Greater Dandenong, is in the top 5 pokies earners in the state.

What we need is action now!

The Greens "Dollar Bets for Pokies" initiative will introduce legislation to:

limit poker machine bets to $1 per spin

stage the introduction of these changes to 2020, allowing machines to be upgraded over 5 years (meaning negligible costs to clubs and pubs)

This is a far, evidence-based solution, recommended by the Productivity Commission. It will make a huge difference in the lives of problem gamblers, their families and the South East Community.

As for the old parties... 

How long does it take you to find an empty seat during peak hour? We took the test! 

You can read woes from other commuters on Twitter here. 

And be sure to record your overcrowded 'sardine' experiences using the #wewontstandforit tag on Twitter & Facebook

We've been so desensitised to overcrowding on trains and trams that we think it's completely normal. It's not good enough. Vic government needs a wakeup call.

You can read the Greens' plan to fix train and tram overcrowding! 

A journey from Flinders to Clayton...

PT overcrowding? No seats from Melbourne Central on Cranbourne-Pakenham line #wewontstandforit #greens14 pic.twitter.com/YikYhY4V8C

— Nina Springle (@ninaspringle)

October 7, 2014

On the Cranbourne-Pakenham from Flinders St. Still no seats at Richmond #wewontstandforit #greens14

— Nina Springle (@ninaspringle)

October 7, 2014

Four people standing and @ninaspringle and I have only just started our journey at Flagstaff #wewontstandforit

— Sean Mulcahy (@seanmulcahygrn)

October 7, 2014

No love finding a seat at South Yarra #wewontstandforit #greens14 pic.twitter.com/OPedfYQhC2

— Nina Springle (@ninaspringle)

October 7, 2014

Pulling into Caulfield with @seanmulcahygrn on the Cranbourne-Pakenham line, no seats for 20mins #wewontstandforit #greens14

— Nina Springle (@ninaspringle)

October 7, 2014

Too many people standing to count on this carriage and the next, pulling into Carnegie #wewontstandforit #greens14

— Nina Springle (@ninaspringle)

October 7, 2014

Here we are at Murrumbeena @GregMLC and still no seats #wewontstandforit #greens14 pic.twitter.com/25jdQjY1kh

— Nina Springle (@ninaspringle)

October 7, 2014

20 mins standing on Dandy train with @ninaspringle. Changing trains at Caulfield. Will Frankston train be less crowded? #wewontstandforit

— Sean Mulcahy (@seanmulcahygrn)

October 7, 2014

Hughesdale much the same - still not a free seat! #wewontstandforit #greens14

— Nina Springle (@ninaspringle)

October 7, 2014

Surprise surprise still not enough seats by Oakleigh 27 mins after leaving Flinders Street #wewontstandforit #greens14

— Nina Springle (@ninaspringle)

October 7, 2014

And FINALLY

We've reached Clayton and there are finally some seats. Left Flinders St over half an hour ago. #wewontstandforit #greens14 #winning!

— Nina Springle (@ninaspringle)

October 7, 2014

and now some food for thought... 

Found a whole heap of seats. But, like the state govt, this train is going in the wrong direction! #wewontstandforit pic.twitter.com/E4Dbz9Yys4

— Rod Swift (@Rod4Footscray)

October 7, 2014

Did you know that Cranbourne has the most solar installations in the South East, at a whopping 22%? (It also ranks third highest in Victoria just under Hoppers Crossing & Werribee). 

It's not all good news though. The Victorian Essential Services Commission has just recommended that from January 2015 the feed-in tariff will be reduced from eight to six cents per kilowatt hour.

What does this mean exactly? Well it means that almost a quarter of all Cranbourne residents (those investing in solar installations) are going to be unfairly punished for using reneqables. The power companies stand to profit, while every day Victorians lose out and will have to pay more. 

An article from the Berwick Leader commenting on this issue.

“We’ve knocked at almost 6000 houses in our region, many with solar installations. One resident from Hampton Park was frankly sick of being screwed by power companies and having his tariff decreased. It’s just not good enough." says Nina 

“The Greens are the only party willing to take a stand on this issue, and with the balance of power we’ll make sure that residents are treated fairly, that Solar is given a fair go, and that power companies stop exploiting businesses and taxpayers in the South East."

Jeanette Swain is our wonderful lower house candidate for the seat of Frankston. You can read her testimony here. 

Raised in the Frankston area, Jeanette is an Education Developer in the Vocational Education Sector, having experience within the community as the chair of the Hume Adult & Community Further Education Council, and Team Leader in eLearning at GoTAFE. She has a Bachelor of Applied Science (1988) and a Masters in Adult Learning and Global Change (2010).

With 22 years of experience, Jeanette is extremely invested and passionate in TAFE and Adult & Community Further Education.

“Our public TAFE system has been losing ground since the 2009 introduction of market-based reforms by the former Labor Government and the savage funding cuts implemented by the Current government.” says Jeanette, “The Greens will lead a push for reinvestment back in public TAFE"

Jeanette was featured in the Frankston Times (September 8)

Nina taking the TAFE pledge! 

"As a former TAFE student & sessional staff member I am so committed to stopping the destruction of our TAFE system. We need to repair the damage this government has done to ensure this vital part of our education system remains alive and thriving!"

The Greens are committed to reinstalling a fair, equitable and efficient TAFE system in Victoria. 

A fantastic door knock in Edithvale - knocked on 511 doors! 

Around mid-August we visited the Bombardier Transportation Plant in Dandenong with Greg Barber MLC. Here we learned how trams and trains were designed, manufactured and transported around Victoria. 

In campaigning around our region - knocking on over 5000 doors - we hear so many complaints about public transport running late, being irregular, or over-crowded. People are tired of not being listened to, of being ignored, and of not having access to the same facilities as other regions in Victoria. It's just not good enough.

The Greens propose to buy a further 50 new trams, expanding passenger capacity to an extra 10,500! It would also provide 500 extra local jobs to the Dandenong region. Read the policy in its entirety here. 

You can read Nina's launch at Bombardier Transportation plant here.  And here's an article focusing on transport as a big issue in Mordialloc & Carrum. 

Welcome to the Team Nina blog! A blog dedicated to Nina Springle's campaign for the South East Metropolitan upper-house this Victorian State Election. 

What are we all about? Check out the about page. 

What's the South East Metro? Here's a handy map!