The City of Merri-bek covers parts of the inner north of Melbourne, including Brunswick, Coburg North, Glenroy, Pascoe Vale, and parts of Coburg, Fawkner and Fitzroy North.
The council was named City of Moreland from 1994 until 2022, when the council was renamed to the City of Merri-bek.
The council had a population of 171,357 as of the 2021 census.
- Wards
- Redistribution
- Incumbent councillors
- History
- Council control
- Candidate summary
- Assessment
- 2020 results
- Voting trends by ward
Wards
The City of Merri-bek will be divided into eleven single-member wards as of 2024:
- Bababi Djinanang – in the north-east, covering Fawkner and parts of Coburg North and Hadfield.
- Box Forest – in the north, covering Glenroy and part of Hadfield.
- Brunswick West – in the south-west, covering Brunswick West.
- Bulleke-bek – in the south, covering parts of Brunswick.
- Djirri-Djirri – in the north-west, covering Gowanbrae and Oak Park.
- Harmony Park – in the centre, covering parts of Coburg and Coburg North.
- Pascoe Vale South – in the west, covering Pascoe Vale South and parts of Pascoe Vale.
- Pentridge – in the east, covering parts of Coburg and Coburg North.
- Randazzo – in the south, covering parts of Brunswick.
- Warrk-Warrk – in the south-east, covering Brunswick East.
- Westbreen – in the north-east, covering parts of Pascoe Vale and Hadfield.
Redistribution
The council previously consisted of four wards, electing eleven councillors. The South Ward elected three members, while the North-East and North-West wards each elected four.
The North-East ward covered the entire new Harmony Park and Pentridge wards, most of the new Bababi Djinanang ward and small parts of the new Brunswick West, Bulleke-bek, Pascoe Vale South, Randazzo, Warrk-Warrk and Westbreen wards.
The North-West ward covered the entire new Box Forest and Djirri-Djirri wards, most of the new Pascoe Vale South and Westbreen wards, and small parts of the new Bababi Djinanang and Brunswick West.
The South ward covered most of the new Brunswick West, Bulleke-bek, Randazzo and Warrk-Warrk wards.
| North-East | North-West | South |
| Sue Bolton (Bolton Team) | Helen Davidson (Ind) | James Conlan (Ind)2 |
| Annalivia Carli Hannan (Labor) | Monica Harte (Bolton Team)1 | Mark Riley (Greens) |
| Helen Pavlidis-Mihalakos (Ind) | Angelica Panopoulos (Grn) | Lambros Tapinos (Labor) |
| Adam Pulford (Greens) | Oscar Yildiz (Independent) |
1Monica Harte replaced Milad El-Halabi following a countback in 2022.
2James Conlan was elected as a member of the Greens but resigned in February 2023.
History
The City of Moreland was created in 1994 as an amalgamation of the City of Brunswick, the City of Coburg and southern parts of the City of Broadmeadows. That council was renamed to the City of Merri-bek in September 2022.
Moreland’s council had been elected from ten single-member wards until 2004, when they switched to a system of three multi-member wards electing eleven members between them. This system was used continuously from 2004 until the most recent election.
The council was dominated by the ALP for the first decade and a half. Labor maintained a council majority continuously from 1996 until 2008.
The ALP continued to hold the mayoralty for most years until the 2016 election. During this time, Labor only lost the mayoralty in 2011 and 2015, when Samantha Ratnam became the first Greens mayor of Moreland.
In the 2016-2020 term, the mayoralty was held by independents Helen Davidson and John Kavanagh, and by a Greens and Labor councillor for one year each.
Following the 2020 election, the mayoralty was shared between Labor and the Greens for the first two years, with Labor’s Annaliva Carli Hannan and the Greens’ Mark Riley holding the mayoralty for one year each.
Labor’s Milad El-Halabi stepped down in 2022, shortly after being charged with election tampering offences and being suspended by the ALP. His seat was won by Monica Harte, who had run on fellow Socialist Alliance councillor Sue Bolton’s ticket in 2020.
At the 2022 mayoral vote, the Greens teamed up with independent councillor Helen Davidson. Greens councillor Angelica Panopoulos took the mayoralty while Davidson became deputy.
The Greens-Labor alliance was restored in 2023, with Greens councillor Adam Pulford elected mayor alongside Labor’s Lambros Tapinos elected unopposed as deputy.
Council control
Labor and the Greens have shared power for part of the last term, but not always so. Generally the Greens have been in the majority.
Candidate summary
Sitting councillors Annalivia Carli Hanna, James Conlan, Monica Harte and Mark Riley are not running for re-election.
Labor is running candidates in all eleven wards, the Victorian Socialists are running in ten, and the Greens in nine. Oscar Yildiz’s “Your Local Independents” are running ten candidates in eight wards. Socialist Alliance are running three candidates. There are ten other candidates running outside of these groups.
Assessment
Labor and the Greens are both strong in this council and the new single-member wards creates the potential for either of them to win a council majority depending on how the wards in the middle of the council swing.
| Party | Votes | % | Seats won |
| Independent | 44,365 | 46.6 | 3 |
| Labor | 20,402 | 21.4 | 3 |
| Greens | 16,396 | 17.2 | 4 |
| Sue Bolton Moreland Team | 5,699 | 6.0 | 1 |
| Victorian Socialists | 4,068 | 4.3 | |
| Reason | 3,286 | 3.5 | |
| Animal Justice | 935 | 1.0 | |
| Informal | 7,825 | 7.6 |
Voting trends by ward
In order to understand the relative political position of each ward, I have estimated the results of the 2022 federal election in each ward.
On a two-party-preferred basis, Labor won every ward, with the Labor 2PP much higher in the south than the north.
But the primary vote trend was the opposite, with Labor support highest in the north of the council, while the Greens outpolled Labor in at least two wards in the south-eastern corner.
Candidates – Bababi Djinanang Ward
- Lance Sinclair (Greens)
- Hassaan Gul (Labor)
- Lynton Michael Joseph (Your Local Independents)
- Cr Sue Bolton (Socialist Alliance)
Candidates – Box Forest Ward
- Lewis Moore (Victorian Socialists)
- Baris Duzova
- Metin Golbasi (Greens)
- Chris Miles (Labor)
Candidates – Brunswick West Ward
- Kathleen De Courcy-Browne (Your Local Independents)
- Ella Svensson (Greens)
- Cr Lambros Tapinos (Labor)
- Anneke Demanuele (Victorian Socialists)
Candidates – Bulleke-bek Ward
- Mel Yuan
- Louisa Bassini (Victorian Socialists)
- Owen Miller
- Jay Iwasaki (Greens)
- Helen Breier (Labor)
Candidates – Djirri-Djirri Ward
- Michelle Pitt
- Abdi Sheikh
- Smitha George
- Cr Helen Davidson (Your Local Independents)
- Praveen Kumar (Labor)
- Wickrama Koddippuli Arachchige (Victorian Socialists)
Candidates – Harmony Park Ward
- Helen Politis (Labor)
- Stephen Schembri (Your Local Independents)
- Ruby Healer (Victorian Socialists)
- Cr Angelica Panopoulos (Greens)
- Jordan Armaou-Massoud (Socialist Alliance)
- Jason A. Clarke (Your Local Independents)
Candidates – Pascoe Vale South Ward
- Corey Perkins (Labor)
- Emma Dook (Victorian Socialists)
- Cr Oscar Yildiz (Your Local Independents)
Candidates – Pentridge Ward
- Suzan Saka (Labor)
- Anthony Helou
- Nat Abboud
- Jacob Andrewartha
- Jasmine Duff (Victorian Socialists)
- Kenna Morrison (Greens)
- Daniel De Lorenzis (Your Local Independents)
Candidates – Randazzo Ward
- Voula Paraskevi Allimonos (Your Local Independents)
- Liz Irvin (Greens)
- Felix Dance (Socialist Alliance)
- Thomas Nash (Labor)
- Kosta Rologas (Victorian Socialists)
Candidates – Warrk-Warrk Ward
- Jo-Ann Hope (Victorian Socialists)
- Jenne Perlstein (Labor)
- Cr Adam Pulford (Greens)
Candidates – Westbreen Ward
- Chloe Holmes (Greens)
- Katerine Theodosis (Labor)
- Cr Helen Pavlidis-Mihalakos (Your Local Independents)
- Henry Parker (Victorian Socialists)
- Renee Egglestone (Your Local Independents)
- Emma Burrows
Very possible that the Greens will gain a majority here with Harmony Park ward as the main ALP-Green battleground. What happens in the north will be a decent indication for Wills at the Federal election, can the Greens win-over more working-class traditionally ALP voters? or at least beat them through Victorian Socialist preferences?
But when it comes to the north I’ve seen much more from Victorian Socialists in terms of their campaign in Hume to win Merlynston Creek ward, rather than their Merri-bek campaigns — their lead candidate of which is running for Bulleke-bek ward in Brunswick anyway.
Something I’m unsure about is the role of the incumbent independents, as far as I understand Sue Bolton is contesting Bababi Djinanang ward, Helen Davidson would probably contest Djirri-Djirri ward, both in the north and nominally Labor majority. Also Oscar Yildiz is running but I can’t figure out what ward??
Djirri-Djirri is the only ward where the Liberals outpoll Labor. Will this change?
Also, where does Merri-bek Council get all its ward names from? I get that they’re Aboriginal names (unique for an inner-city area where hardly anyone is Aboriginal) but what do they mean? They aren’t suburb names.
@ NP
The North West (Oak Park/Pascoe Vale & Pascoe Vale South) Are Liberal friendly areas and weaker for Greens. They are middle class family friendly suburbs it is also more Italian and Catholic and less Muslim. The Bababi Djinanang ward is the poorest part and most Muslim as well so interested how Palestine plays out. The Harmony Park ward has gentrified 20 years ago quite working class and ethnic now more students and renters.
@Nimalan looking at federal results it seems to be the only part of Wills where the Liberals finish second and outpoll the Greens.
@Nether Portal
Pretty sure you accidently wrote Labor when you meant Greens, I’m not sure if that will change though demographically things may be getting a bit worse for the Liberals there but at the same time with most of Djirri-Djirri being moved out of the Wills electorate it’ll be the ward at the bottom of the Green’s priority list this council election where their goal is likely concentrating their vote.
Pretty sure most of the Aboriginal names come from parks in their respective areas: Bababi Djinanang grassland in Fawkner, Bulleke-bek park along the Upfield path, Warrk-Warrk comes from a Merri Creek bridge, exception is Djirri-Djirri which why exactly it was chosen I can’t find. The Italian named ward (Randazzo) also comes from a local park.
@ NP
Yep it is more a middle class suburban area. The only thing is the Libs have no incentive to do well in Wills. As Vandon said Labor is really concerned about this area being moved out of Wills and submitted objections while the Greens will be happy with that. This is an area that Peter Khalil hopes will save him, he is counting on the Italian and Nepalese community to stop the Greens winning.
Brunswick Voice reporting seems to confirm that former mayor Helen Davidson will be (re)contesting Djirri-Djirri ward.
https://brunswickvoice.com.au/councillor-facing-four-week-suspension-for-misconduct/
Meanwhile Oscar Yildiz is going to re(contest) Pascoe Vale South, according to his own twitter.
https://x.com/OscarYILDIZ4VIC/status/1822390209373495701/photo/1
So far the Greens are contesting 9 wards. Labor is down for all 11. Victorian Socialists have announced candidates in 5, and Socialist Alliance in 4. Hash Tayeh, the owner of restaurant chain Burgertory who had that restaurant fire in Caulfield a while ago and is vocal on Palestine is also running in Pascoe Vale South, up against Oscar Yildiz.
Randazzo and Pentridge look like the most interesting contests, both having so far, 5 announced candidates each. Neither have anyone seeking re-election, though Nat Abboud who is the former Mayor and a Greens member, now independent, might make things especially interesting. Box Forest also has 5 candidates so far.
In terms of any actual on the ground campaigning, I have only received material from the Greens candidate for my ward, and haven’t seen anything myself yet beyond ads from the Labor candidate on social media.
Also as an aside to the above, Hash Tayeh does not actually live in Merri-bek, so I do wonder why he chose it.
Oscar Yildiz has now announced a suite of “Independents” for 9/11 wards. Meaning Pentridge and Box Forest now have 6 announced candidates so far.
Also now have a Fusion Party candidate in Bulleke-bek https://www.fusionparty.org.au/candidates
@ Connor
I am surprised that Hash Tayeh is contesting the Pascoe Vale South ward given it is more middle class and less Muslim pocket. I would expect he contest the Bababi Djinanang ward instead. Oscar Yildiz is a centrist politicians so i expect his support will be around Pascoe Vale and Oak Park.
Hash Tayeh has withdrawn his candidacy.
https://x.com/LocalElectionAU/status/1829696400554410013
Well there goes one candidate!
VicSoc have now announced 9 candidates. The Greens and Socialist Alliance seem unlikely to announce any further candidates. Now it just remains whether Yildiz’s “Your Independents” ticket runs any further candidates. As otherwise this seems to be how it will look overall at the close of nominations sans any further independents.
In terms of the “on the ground” feel, I haven’t seen any corflutes or anything of that sort in my local area and I have only received material from the Greens candidate. Suppose we are still a long way off things, but it does compare quite a bit with the Melbourne City Council election which I have seen a lot of shop front posters for candidates etc.
Have you have seen https://themuslimvote.com.au/ &
https://www.muslimvotesmatter.com.au/
That could change the vote if people don’t pay attention to who is referencing who.
The Liberals have said they are putting Greens last & asked Labor to do the same which it hasn’t agreed to.
If the Greens & these groups preference each other Melbourne could be like London.
How to vote cards don’t particularly play a massive role in Victorian council elections as there is no attendance voting, and it takes a lot of people on the ground to drop a HTV in every letterbox. Not to say there aren’t HTV cards, but they are definitely more infrequent.
I suppose it probably won’t make too much of a difference in Merri-bek. Parties are not on the ballot, and a lot of people do not campaign as party members.
The Liberals are not endorsing anyone in Merri-bek (or anywhere in Victoria really), and have not done so for many elections, so they probably won’t be putting anyone last.
Some strange contests here. PVS seems to be Vic Soc/Labor/Yildiz the rest are mostly Greens/Vic Soc or SA/Labor/independent.
Also strange the Yildiz independents seem to have multiple candidates for Harmony Park ward
@ Ben Raue
Are you able to include a Labor/Green 2CP Option like you did for neighbouring Darebin council. This usually a non classic area.
In terms of colour coding i mean
Done.
Thanks Ben much appreciated
“At the 2022 election, the Greens teamed up with” -> “In the 2022 mayoral vote, the Greens teamed up with” because I thought I’d missed an election campaign there.
@ben raue will votes be counted on the night of the 26th?
I somewhat question Yildiz running in PVS. It voted 59-41 to the ALP at the 2018 state election, and has a fairly fast growing Greens cohort which will not be friendly towards him
Not sure if it is enough for him to lose, but the Labor candidate has run a fairly strong campaign despite being a relative unknown
It’s a delight to live in an area where 15-30% will vote Socialist. Even better that there are two sets of Socialists in the grand tradition of doctrinal splitting. If this was meant to improve Labor numbers it failed on the 8 outcomes so far declared.
Results are now in: It will be majority Green/progressive Council again.
4 Greens, 3 Labor, 3 Independents (Helen Davidson, Oscar Yildiz, Nat Abboud), 1 Socialist Alliance.
The 3 Labor Councillors are all new. Nat Abboud is a progressive Independent. The Greens took a clean sweep of the 4 Brunswick Wards.
https://climateactionmerribek.org/2024/11/11/merri-bek-citizens-elect-another-progressive-council-in-2024/
Interesting that Bababi Djinanang Ward which is the most Muslim has seem a Socialist Alliance candidate defeat a Muslim Labor candidate. Ideally. the Greens would have liked to defeat Labor in Harmony Park. However, the Greens kept its base in Brunswick. Is this a sign that Wills maybe in trouble as the Green, Socialist alliance have beaten Labor?
@Nimalan local politics are weird and I’m pretty sure in Victoria the party name isn’t on the ballot. But I still think Wills will go, it’s been trending Greens forever now.
Greens predictions:
* Greens hold: Griffith (MCM), Melbourne (leftist seat), Ryan (tactical voting)
* Greens gain from Labor: Wills (leftist seat, Palestine)
* Labor hold: Cooper (progressive incumbent), Richmond (out of touch)
* Labor gain from Greens: Brisbane (out of touch)
The Greens will only ever win seats in the inner-city. They won’t win seats in Perth or Adelaide either and one day risk losing all their seats in Brisbane too (federal, state and BCC).
@Nether Portal I agree that Wills will go federally, and side note, Bob Hawke will probably be spinning in his graves when that happens.
Labor is much better at sandbagging seats from the Greens and they’ve got Labor left candidates in those seats that will help. Peter Khalil is completely opposite of what kind of candidate that suits a seat like Wills.
@ Tommo9
The issue with Wills is that it is not demographically the same seat that Hawke represented and someone like Hawke who is quite centrist, Pro-American and back in the day was very Pro-Israel will not fit Wills these days. There has been immense gentrification and many first generation Italians and Greeks (who would have been loyal to Hawke) are now dying off as their children and grandchildren have moved on. The Muslim community has grown since then. In someways Khalil does fit Wills as he is off migrant background. However, this offset as he is quite right wing on foreign policy he is a China Hawk and quite friendly with people such James Paterson who are hated in electorates like this.
@ NP
I do agree that Parties are not on the ballot but i am not sure if the Socialist Alliance mentioned Palestine in their leaflets.
Alarm bells should be ringing in the ALP, particularly in light of the outcome in the Bababi Djinanang Ward. Socialist Alliance incumbent Sue Bolton won handily with 46 per cent of the primary vote in the ward. She garnered strong support from Arab voters after taking a clear stance on Palestine. Bolton contested the Wills election in 2022 and preferenced the Greens.Given the strength of feeling in the area about the Labor Govt’s stance on the Gaza conflict, the ALP stands to lose several thousand votes in Fawkner/North Coburg at the Federal Election on a 2PP basis against the Green candidate. Combined with the effect of the redistribution of the Wills boundaries, Khalil’s primary vote is likely to fall well under 35 per cent. I’m pencilling this one in as a gain for the Greens.