Thursday, 16 November 2023

Cr Tom Melican

Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Minister for Police, Minister for Crime Prevention, Minister for Racing) (09:52): I do rise to congratulate Cr Tom Melican, who has been elected mayor of the City of Banyule for effectively the 2024 year. He has been a long-serving councillor for some 20 years at Banyule. He has a very strong understanding of some of the key priorities in the Banyule community, in particular climate change and renewables. He understands about active transport and the work that we are doing to improve facilities and services in the community.

I was fortunate enough to serve on Banyule City Council with Cr Melican between 2005 and 2010, just as the member for Bundoora also served on Banyule City Council with Cr Melican. It has been great to have his leadership in the work that we have been able to do, including the new Ivanhoe Library, jointly funded by Banyule City Council and the Allan Labor government. We are about to start construction of the new Rosanna Library with a $1.5 million contribution from our government but also from a contribution from Banyule City Council.

Tom Melican is a life member at Macleod Football Club, where he played over 300 games, and we are both strong supporters of Macleod. I look forward to seeing him at games next year. I want to congratulate him on his ongoing leadership, and I know that the members for Eltham and Bundoora and I look forward to working with him in the Banyule community over the coming 12-month term in which he will be leading the city.