Melbourne is inclusive, creative, sustainable and confident in its diversity

It’s a privilege to spend so much of my time in places where Melbourne comes together to celebrate, to belong, and to imagine what comes next.

One of the most moving parts of my role is attending citizenship ceremonies, particularly those held at Melbourne Town Hall and more recently at AAMI Park. These are moments filled with pride, anticipation, and hope. People from every corner of the world stand together, raise their right hands, and commit to a shared future as Australians.

The settings themselves say something important: our civic heart at the Town Hall, and one of our great sporting arenas at AAMI Park, both opening their doors to new citizens. It’s a powerful reminder that citizenship isn’t just a legal status; it’s participation in a community that values fairness, opportunity and respect.

Those values are also reflected in how we invest in our city. Labor’s commitment to the Greenline project along the Birrarung/Yarra River is about more than beautification - though anyone who has walked the river knows how transformative that can be. It’s about reconnecting people with our most iconic natural asset, creating accessible public spaces, improving biodiversity, and supporting local jobs. The Yarra is central to Melbourne’s story, from its deep cultural significance to First Nations peoples to its role in shaping the city we know today. Investing in the Greenline means ensuring the river can be enjoyed by everyone, now and into the future.

Culture, too, is a cornerstone of who we are. Inner-city venues and festivals give Melbourne its pulse, but they’ve faced enormous challenges in recent years.

That’s why Revive Live grants have been so important. These grants support the small and medium venues where emerging artists cut their teeth, where local audiences discover new sounds, and where communities gather. The grants also back festivals that spill onto our streets and laneways, bringing energy and economic activity to neighbourhoods that thrive on creativity.

When we support live music and performance, we’re not indulging a luxury; we are investing in jobs, good mental health, and the soul of our city.

Sustainability and community wellbeing come together beautifully at the Victoria Point Edible Garden in Docklands. I had a chance to visit the garden recently. This project turns underused space into something practical and inspiring: a place where locals can grow Indigenous food, learn new skills and recipes, and connect with one another.

Urban gardens like this show what’s possible when we think creatively about city living. They promote healthier eating, reduce food miles, and build a sense of shared responsibility for our environment. Just as importantly, they create spaces where neighbours meet -something that matters more than ever in a growing city.

As we move into February, many families across Melbourne will be celebrating Lunar New Year. It’s a time marked by reunion, generosity, and optimism; values that resonate far beyond any one community. I want to wish everyone celebrating a Happy Lunar New Year and a year filled with good health, prosperity and joy. The colour, food, and traditions associated with Lunar New Year are a vivid reminder of the multicultural fabric that makes our city such a wonderful place to live.

From citizenship ceremonies to riverside walks, from live music venues to community gardens, these moments and investments are all connected. They speak to a vision of Melbourne that is inclusive, creative, sustainable and confident in its diversity. I am proud to be part of a government that believes in backing our communities and public spaces, and I am grateful every day for the chance to work alongside people who care so deeply about this city.

Melbourne’s story is still being written; by new citizens, by artists and volunteers, by families celebrating old traditions and creating new ones. It’s a story worth investing in, and one I’m honoured to help tell. •