Advocacy

What we are asking for

More police funding

We know that crime in Knox is increasing, particularly family and domestic violence.

We are asking for more ongoing funding so that Victoria Police can:

• be more visible, especially in hotspot areas and shopping centres
• keep police station hours the same, including in Rowville and Boronia
• support the Specialised Youth Outreach Program to help young people under 18 stay out of crime.

Strengthen community policing

Community policing helps police and the community work together. It builds trust and focuses on preventing crime, not just responding to it.

We are asking for more support to strengthen the Proactive Policing Unit in Knox to keep working on reducing common crimes like shop theft and theft from cars.

Find out more

You can contact our Director Connected Communities to learn more about this advocacy project.

Judy Chalkley

Phone: 9298 8298

What we are asking for

More public library funding

We know that public libraries play an important role in our community. They help children get ready for school, support learning, reduce loneliness and help people stay connected in a digital world.

However, funding has not kept up with demand or population growth since 2018. This is putting pressure on services and means local councils are having to cover more of the cost.

We are asking for increased and ongoing funding from the Victorian Government to meet growing demand on public libraries. This should include reviewing and updating the current funding plan so it keeps up with population growth and inflation.

More Knox Historical Society funding

We know the Knox Historical Society (KHS) plays an important role in preserving our local history.

Ambleside Park Homestead in Ferntree Gully has been used by the KHS since 1977. However, the current temporary facilities are not suitable. There are concerns about accessibility, compliance and not enough climate-controlled storage for the collection.

We are asking the Victorian Government for $3 million for a new resource centre. This would allow the KHS to move storage, administration, cataloguing and research activities out of the homestead. It would also mean the historic building could be used for exhibitions and museum programs.

Without this, the homestead will continue to be used for operational work, which limits public access and makes it harder to properly care for and research the collection.

Find out more

You can contact our Director Connected Communities to learn more about this advocacy project.

Judy Chalkley

Phone: 9298 8298

What we are asking for

Windfall Gains Tax is a Victorian Government tax introduced on 1 July 2023. It applies when land is rezoned and increases in value. The aim is to share some of this extra land value with the community. However, the money goes into general Victorian Government revenue, not directly into local infrastructure.

We are asking the Victorian Government to stop charging councils Windfall Gains Tax when they rezone council-owned land in a Public Use Zone or Public Park and Recreation Zone back to its original zoning as part of responsible land management.

This is because councils rezone land to improve community outcomes, not to make private profit. Council land is a public asset and any value created through rezoning is returned to the community through services and infrastructure.

Find out more

You can contact Advocacy Lead at Banyule City Council to learn more about this advocacy project.

Email: [email protected]

Download Windfall Gains Tax fact sheet

Knox City Council is a member of the Alliance for Gambling Reform. This is a national advocacy group that works alongside 60 councils to prevent and minimise harm from gambling.

Together with the Alliance, we advocate to the Victorian and Australian Government for gambling reforms.

What we are asking for

We know that reducing gambling harm will provide many benefits to our local community. This includes improved health and wellbeing outcomes for gamblers and their families. We also know that sporting organisations’ reliance on gambling revenue has normalised gambling as a part of sport.

We are asking for:

• a permanent reduction to gambling room operating hours, which would close all gambling rooms between midnight and 10 am
• a reduced maximum bet on Electronic Gaming Machines to $1 per spin
• reforms to the Community Benefit Scheme, including a more transparent reporting process and the removal of sponsorships and operating costs as eligible community benefit claims
• greater transparency of the Victorian Government’s Community Support Fund at a local government level
• ongoing support with advocacy campaigns through our membership with the Alliance for Gambling Reform.

Other advocacy work

We also advocate for gambling harm prevention across Knox through our partnerships with community groups, clubs, services and other organisations.

We will work with peak bodies to advocate for a reduced connection between gambling and sporting organisations, such as the AFL and NFL.

We want to decrease reliance on gambling revenue streams and minimise the normalisation of gambling within sport.

We are advocating to ban:

• sports betting advertising, particularly during live viewing of sport
• incentives to gamble
• targeted online gambling to young people.

Find out more

You can learn more on our Gambling Harm Prevention Policy web page.