If `keeping the bastards honest` is what it is all about, then the Melbourne electorate of Port Phillip had a win on the weekend.
Entertainment photographer was voted in for a seat in the electorate, following more than a year of campaigning about the dishonesty in the council.As President of Unchain St Kilda, Thomann has been campaigning against the destruction of the heritage of one of Australia’s most iconic areas.
The group had been campaigning to save the region from the development of the St Kilda Triangle, which would see a shopping complex, car park and apartments go up in the scenic foreshore region of St Kilda.
Thomann’s victory was even sweeter, considering the last minute smear campaign other electoral nominees had thrown up at him. He was not surprised by voter reaction though.
“We have worked very hard to win and I am thrilled with the result,” he tells Undercover News. “I am not really surprised as the previous Council and Mayor had lost touch with the people they are supposed to represent. To get rid of 3 of the 4 outgoing councillors is a beautiful thing. When you stop listening to your community, they vote you out! There is no secret, really”.
Now that the Unchain St Kilda has a voice from inside the tent, one of the first points of business is to see what the previous council had promised. “We have to look at the development agreement first - document that has never been shown to us in full - and take it from there,” he says. “The current crisis in the financial market will certainly have an influence, and also the legal challenges that unChain St Kilda has taken against the Council. I will look at what is on offer with an open mind and I hope that we can change what is proposed”.
Now that Thomann is working for the people of Port Phillip, he has removed himself as head of UnChain St Kilda. “The first decision I took when I was elected was to resign from my position of President of UnChain St Kilda,” he said. “uCSK will keep the legal action alive and unChain Port Phillip will stay as an entity for future elections. We have done well first time around. We are a new exciting and strong force and we are proud to have the trust of the people of Port Phillip. We will not disappoint them”.
