Brunswick Labor.net

Jane and her husband, James Higgins, are raising two children Molly (6) and Sasha (2).

Jane has strong connections to Brunswick.  Six generations of her family have lived in Brunswick. Up to the 1960s Jane's grandfather and great grandfather ran ‘Ralph Garrett & Son’ - a building business on Melville Road.

As a Councillor on the City of Yarra representing North Fitzroy Jane has secured increased funding for childcare, affordable housing and sustainable energy. She has been a key driver behind getting Collingwood back to Victoria Park and opening up the ground for local sporting clubs and the community.

Jane has fought for working families all her professional life as well. She is national union services manager for Slater and Gordon, working closely with unions to represent and advance workers rights across the country. As a Senior Legal and Policy Advisor for Steve Bracks she worked on a number of key reforms to justice in Victoria.

She has degrees from the Australian National University in Law and Arts and is currently on the Board for the Council of Adult Education.

Contact Jane via email jane@brunswicklabor.net

The State Government has announced a series of initiatives on Sydney Road.  These include:

• a 40km/h speed limit
  
• Removing the counter peak clearway in Coburg
  
• Linemarking parking bays
  
• Installing directional parking signs (to offstreet parking)
  
• Linemarking for bicycles
  
• Expanded clearway hours

The Premier, John Brumby today announced that Consumer Affairs Victoria would employ 12 dedicated inspectors specifically trained and dedicated to rooming houses to step up enforcement efforts.

The Consumer Affairs Victoria inspectors will work with local council inspectors to:

• Undertake more inspections of rooming houses;


• Ensure rooming houses are properly registered; and


• Issue compliance notices to ensure rooming houses comply with minimum standards.

“The conditions of some rooming houses are a blight on our suburbs,” Mr. Carli said.

“I am very happy that the government is taking action on those predatory operators of intentionally sub-standard rooming houses who prey on some of the most vulnerable members of our community”

Mr Brumby also announced a new rooming house taskforce, which would meet for the first time this Friday and report back to Government within six weeks on a new set of minimum standards and enforcement of standards for rooming houses.

The taskforce includes representatives from peak groups such as the Victorian Council on Social Service, the Council for Homeless Persons, the Municipal Association of Victoria and the Real Estate Institute of Victoria, as well as housing providers.