By Parker McKenzie
Nadia Sirninger Rankin is a political newcomer, running for the first time as the Greens candidate for Bayswater in a seat where environmental protection has become a key issue.
She said she decided to become involved in politics for the first time with the Greens and “put her values into action” because her generation has a feeling of disempowerment.
“That can be really hard when you’re watching people that don’t look like yourself in all political roles,” she said.
“Being a young person, a woman, a renter, an artist and a local to Bayswater, it’s so important that we see people like me running and creating change.”
The 24-year-old artist and hospitality worker is the youngest candidate to nominate in the electorate so far. She said after recently living independently for the first time, she has realised how real the housing crisis is.
“I know so many people my age that have multiple jobs and are still struggling to make ends meet, it’s important we are making housing more affordable,” Ms Sirninger Rankin said.
“We have 100,000 Victorians waiting for homes and tens of thousands experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, that’s a scary thing.”
Ms Sirninger Rankin said she has been passionate about political change for a long time and as an artist “change is inherently important to me.”
“Moving into a political role was just that next step to see if I can really take action against the climate crisis and make a difference,” she said.
“Labor and the Liberals have failed us in a lot of ways and we need real people who aren’t just political staffers working towards a better future and representing people.”
Lake Knox, a man-made dam set to be replaced by a housing development and wetlands, has become an environmental and election issue after multiple hatchlings of the vulnerable blue-billed ducks were found at the site.
Ms Sirninger Rankin said it is important critical habitat like Lake Knox is protected and development works “symbiotically instead of creating destruction.”
“I think it’s really beautiful in that way because it does prove that people can create beautiful, natural habitats and work together with nature,” she said.
“We do need more housing in the Bayswater district, but we need to be finding ways where we are still supporting the natural habitats that we have here.”
The Victorian state election will be held on Saturday 26 November.
