Mat Morgan is a candidate in Bunurong Ward. 1. Where do you live?
I live in Cape Paterson, an ecologically delicate coastal village where the community is fighting to bring the town boundary back to Seaward Drive. Our current councillors haven’t even been able to deliver a response from the relevant minister on this issue.
2. How long have you lived in Bass Coast?
My family and I have been bouncing around Bass Coast and South Gippsland for six generations.
I moved to my Grandparents’ (Margaret and Daryl Hook) farm in Pound Creek as soon as I finished high school. I studied remotely from the farm and worked at Aldi in Wonthaggi before taking an adviser role to Emma Davidson, who’s a ACT Gov Minister. I now live in Cape Paterson and work in digital communications.
I live in Cape Paterson, an ecologically delicate coastal village where the community is fighting to bring the town boundary back to Seaward Drive. Our current councillors haven’t even been able to deliver a response from the relevant minister on this issue.
2. How long have you lived in Bass Coast?
My family and I have been bouncing around Bass Coast and South Gippsland for six generations.
I moved to my Grandparents’ (Margaret and Daryl Hook) farm in Pound Creek as soon as I finished high school. I studied remotely from the farm and worked at Aldi in Wonthaggi before taking an adviser role to Emma Davidson, who’s a ACT Gov Minister. I now live in Cape Paterson and work in digital communications.
3. What is your previous community involvement (voluntary work or membership), either in
Bass Coast or another area?
Some of my earliest memories are attending Landcare tree plantings in Bass Coast when the tree-planters were taller than me. When I got a little older, I realised that just planting trees isn’t going to cut it; we have to protect our environment and climate.
At age 16, I joined the Bob Brown foundation, The Greens, and helped in the early days of the school strike 4 climate movement. I’ve spent consecutive nights in tree-sits, protecting our native forests in Gippsland from what would later be found to be illegal logging. This was before learning that I’m much more comfortable with words than I am with heights.
In 2019, I co-founded Bass Coast Climate Action Network, which quickly began a successful campaign to have Bass Coast Shire Council become the first council in Gippsland to declare a climate emergency and implement a net-zero by 2030 plan.
4. What experience or attributes do you bring that will help you in the role of shire
councillor?
With experience as a student studying remotely while stacking shelves in Wonthaggi; I would bring my first-hand, recent experience of being a young person struggling to make ends meet. I’ve doorknocked thousands of homes in this campaign and spoken with hundreds of young people who feel completely unrepresented by our local politicians on all three levels of government. We have an ageing population who rely on young people to service the local economy, yet young people are leaving Bass Coast in droves. Young people need a councillor who speaks to them.
I also bring professional experience working in the office of the ACT Minister for Seniors, Mental Health, Corrections and Youth Justice. I’ve spent hours pouring over budget briefs, policy documents, you name it; I’ve done it. I know how government works, I know how to get things done, and I know my way around a budget.
5. Have you stood for election before in local, state or federal government?
I sure have. I was proud to be endorsed as your Greens candidate for the last federal election, where The Greens made a positive swing, helping to turn Monash marginal. I won’t be recontesting the next federal election and look forward to seeing who the next candidate will be.
6. Do you belong to a political party?
I’m a member of the Bass Coast branch of The Greens. The Greens believe in transparency and have a policy that mandates members declare their affiliation if running for election, unlike other parties whose members have and will continue to run as ‘independents’.
7. Are you directing preferences?
I’m focused on communicating the local issues concerning the thousands of people I’ve doorknocked over the past four months, not preference whispering.
I don’t intend to print a ’how to vote’ card but would be willing to post a guide on my social media channels if folks would like that.
I encourage everyone to use our wonderful preferential voting system wisely! If you want change, you have to vote for it.
8. Name up to five local issues that you consider most important and explain how you
believe the council should tackle them.
Issue 1: Footpaths. The most common issue that has been raised with me while doorknocking has been the lack of footpaths. I’ve spoken with people who have mobility issues and can’t leave their homes anymore because they can no longer drive and there’s no safe way to walk to town.
Kids and people walking with prams on the road is just not good enough. Council spends a tiny proportion of the budget on footpaths compared to other local government areas, which needs to change
Issue 2: Our precious coastal environment and the housing crisis don’t need to be at odds. I will fight to bring the Cape Paterson boundary back to protect our wildlife corridors whilst committing to sustainable, affordable housing where it’s needed, close to jobs, schools and public transport.
We also need to remind ourselves that town planning doesn’t just mean houses and roads. We need more playgrounds, green space, dog parks; people in new developments on the outskirts of Inverloch and Wonthaggi shouldn’t have to get in the car and drive across town just to find a decent playground.
Issue 3: The Early childhood education system is broken. I’ve spoken with countless parents and caregivers who want to return to work but can’t access childcare. I understand that early childhood education and care is largely a federal issue, so in August, I invited Senator Steph Hodgins-May to visit Bass Coast as the Greens spokesperson for Early Childhood Education and Care.
We won’t solve the big issues from local government, but we certainly won’t improve anything if our councillors aren’t prepared to go in to bat and advocate for us to our state and federal politicians.
Issue 4: Cost of living pressures are hitting hard. I’ve spoken with people struggling to put food on the table, making impossible choices between paying for medicine or sending the kids to school hungry. I want to see local council increase mutual aid and put on regular events with free food. If my fellow councillors aren’t prepared to that, I’ll do it myself. Greens representatives all over the country are funding free food programs from their own salaries and with the help of local volunteers and supporters; if that’s what has to be done, sign me up. Nobody should be going hungry in such a wealthy country.
For those who might not be needing a feed but are still feeling the pinch, I’d also like to bring back free hard rubbish, introduce public wifi, and copy Sydney City Council in their brilliant rollout of a comprehensive ‘tool and stuff’ library.
Issue 5: It’s time to do something with the McBride Ave campus. I’ve been running a community survey asking people what they would like to see happen at the campus, which has been ‘gifted’ to the council but has been sitting dormant for years. It’s a huge space, and I’m enjoying hearing everyone’s ideas. To bring any of them to fruition is going to require a bold council who aren’t afraid of lobbying in Spring Street.
9. Name the one thing you would most like to achieve if you are elected a Bass Coast Shire
councillor.
I would most like to show people that we can have affordable housing and enhance our natural environment. I want to demonstrate that we can help people get a hot meal in their bellies and that it won’t blow out our very top-heavy council budget. I want to see 86-year-old Marg able to get into town safely on a footpath and not be stuck at home just because she’s had to hand her license in.
I want to write back to you at the end of the term and say, ‘See! I told you we could do it.'
Bass Coast or another area?
Some of my earliest memories are attending Landcare tree plantings in Bass Coast when the tree-planters were taller than me. When I got a little older, I realised that just planting trees isn’t going to cut it; we have to protect our environment and climate.
At age 16, I joined the Bob Brown foundation, The Greens, and helped in the early days of the school strike 4 climate movement. I’ve spent consecutive nights in tree-sits, protecting our native forests in Gippsland from what would later be found to be illegal logging. This was before learning that I’m much more comfortable with words than I am with heights.
In 2019, I co-founded Bass Coast Climate Action Network, which quickly began a successful campaign to have Bass Coast Shire Council become the first council in Gippsland to declare a climate emergency and implement a net-zero by 2030 plan.
4. What experience or attributes do you bring that will help you in the role of shire
councillor?
With experience as a student studying remotely while stacking shelves in Wonthaggi; I would bring my first-hand, recent experience of being a young person struggling to make ends meet. I’ve doorknocked thousands of homes in this campaign and spoken with hundreds of young people who feel completely unrepresented by our local politicians on all three levels of government. We have an ageing population who rely on young people to service the local economy, yet young people are leaving Bass Coast in droves. Young people need a councillor who speaks to them.
I also bring professional experience working in the office of the ACT Minister for Seniors, Mental Health, Corrections and Youth Justice. I’ve spent hours pouring over budget briefs, policy documents, you name it; I’ve done it. I know how government works, I know how to get things done, and I know my way around a budget.
5. Have you stood for election before in local, state or federal government?
I sure have. I was proud to be endorsed as your Greens candidate for the last federal election, where The Greens made a positive swing, helping to turn Monash marginal. I won’t be recontesting the next federal election and look forward to seeing who the next candidate will be.
6. Do you belong to a political party?
I’m a member of the Bass Coast branch of The Greens. The Greens believe in transparency and have a policy that mandates members declare their affiliation if running for election, unlike other parties whose members have and will continue to run as ‘independents’.
7. Are you directing preferences?
I’m focused on communicating the local issues concerning the thousands of people I’ve doorknocked over the past four months, not preference whispering.
I don’t intend to print a ’how to vote’ card but would be willing to post a guide on my social media channels if folks would like that.
I encourage everyone to use our wonderful preferential voting system wisely! If you want change, you have to vote for it.
8. Name up to five local issues that you consider most important and explain how you
believe the council should tackle them.
Issue 1: Footpaths. The most common issue that has been raised with me while doorknocking has been the lack of footpaths. I’ve spoken with people who have mobility issues and can’t leave their homes anymore because they can no longer drive and there’s no safe way to walk to town.
Kids and people walking with prams on the road is just not good enough. Council spends a tiny proportion of the budget on footpaths compared to other local government areas, which needs to change
Issue 2: Our precious coastal environment and the housing crisis don’t need to be at odds. I will fight to bring the Cape Paterson boundary back to protect our wildlife corridors whilst committing to sustainable, affordable housing where it’s needed, close to jobs, schools and public transport.
We also need to remind ourselves that town planning doesn’t just mean houses and roads. We need more playgrounds, green space, dog parks; people in new developments on the outskirts of Inverloch and Wonthaggi shouldn’t have to get in the car and drive across town just to find a decent playground.
Issue 3: The Early childhood education system is broken. I’ve spoken with countless parents and caregivers who want to return to work but can’t access childcare. I understand that early childhood education and care is largely a federal issue, so in August, I invited Senator Steph Hodgins-May to visit Bass Coast as the Greens spokesperson for Early Childhood Education and Care.
We won’t solve the big issues from local government, but we certainly won’t improve anything if our councillors aren’t prepared to go in to bat and advocate for us to our state and federal politicians.
Issue 4: Cost of living pressures are hitting hard. I’ve spoken with people struggling to put food on the table, making impossible choices between paying for medicine or sending the kids to school hungry. I want to see local council increase mutual aid and put on regular events with free food. If my fellow councillors aren’t prepared to that, I’ll do it myself. Greens representatives all over the country are funding free food programs from their own salaries and with the help of local volunteers and supporters; if that’s what has to be done, sign me up. Nobody should be going hungry in such a wealthy country.
For those who might not be needing a feed but are still feeling the pinch, I’d also like to bring back free hard rubbish, introduce public wifi, and copy Sydney City Council in their brilliant rollout of a comprehensive ‘tool and stuff’ library.
Issue 5: It’s time to do something with the McBride Ave campus. I’ve been running a community survey asking people what they would like to see happen at the campus, which has been ‘gifted’ to the council but has been sitting dormant for years. It’s a huge space, and I’m enjoying hearing everyone’s ideas. To bring any of them to fruition is going to require a bold council who aren’t afraid of lobbying in Spring Street.
9. Name the one thing you would most like to achieve if you are elected a Bass Coast Shire
councillor.
I would most like to show people that we can have affordable housing and enhance our natural environment. I want to demonstrate that we can help people get a hot meal in their bellies and that it won’t blow out our very top-heavy council budget. I want to see 86-year-old Marg able to get into town safely on a footpath and not be stuck at home just because she’s had to hand her license in.
I want to write back to you at the end of the term and say, ‘See! I told you we could do it.'