The Victorian Greens have announced Dr Rochelle Hine as the Greens candidate for the federal seat of Gippsland, bringing strong climate action and environment laws to the heart of the campaign.
Rochelle is an experienced campaigner having previously run for the Greens in the seat of Morwell during the 2022 State election, strongly representing social, economic and
environmental issues of community concern.
Rochelle’s background is in public healthcare and she is employed as an academic at Monash University, specialising in mental health, and leading a number of collaborative research projects in Gippsland on topics including mental health stigma and climate change.
Rochelle is a single mum, grandparent, foster carer and community volunteer. Rochelle will work hard to ensure that the voices of young people are represented and valued; having spent a good deal of her work life in this field.
In Gippsland, Rochelle’s priorities are:
– Working towards a respectful Treaty process with First Nations people
– Keeping the region free of the threat of nuclear reactors
– Realistic and evidence-based climate change action, e.g. supporting the offshore wind developments of the Gippsland Coast
– Improve communications connectivity for regional, rural and remote areas
– Strengthening public health; Including dental and mental health in Medicare
“Now more than ever, Gippsland needs and deserves strong, compassionate, values-based political leadership recognising and representing local community priorities and needs,” she said.
“I will fight for fairness, justice and equity in public health and education, for sustainable, science-based climate change action, and to keep Latrobe Valley free from nuclear reactors “If you’re worried about the cost of living, housing or climate, you ‘re not alone.
“In a wealthy country like ours, everyone should be able to afford the basics: a home, food and world class health and education.
“We can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result. If you want change, the first step is to vote for it.”
