Council
23 August, 2026
Greens announce South West Coast candidate
THE Greens have announced Warrnambool’s Silver Rose as their candidate for South West Coast ahead of the November state election.
Silver said the decision to run for the seat stemmed from feeling “completely fed up” with the lack of representation for communities across the district.
“I got tired of not feeling represented by any of the options, or feeling unable to trust that they really had mine or my communities’ best interest in mind,” she said.
“If you can’t see what you want, sometimes you have to be the person you wish you could see.
“Over the years I saw community independents like Alex Dyson and Carol Altmann bravely challenge the political landscape in the South West Coast seat, and I’ve been inspired.
“Inspired to stand up for what I believe our community deserves, and be proudly Green and proudly progressive in the process.”
Among the leading issues which Silver believes will need to be addressed to improve the conditions for south west residents are affordable housing, public transport, lack of access to healthcare, cost of living and climate.
“These are the issues that everyday south west locals can’t escape,” she said.
“They’re the issues we’ve been told that just can’t be fixed because they’re too complicated or too costly.
“I simply don’t believe that anymore.
“We see what they prioritise funding for.”
Silver said many residents were feeling it was impossible to secure a roof over their heads due to the exorbitant costs of renting – much less buying a property.
“Homelessness is unfortunately a common result, and our local services that are dangerously underfunded on short-term funding commitments can’t keep up anymore,” she said.
“In my work in youth homelessness I’ve seen first-hand how the lack of affordable housing impacts real people.
“I refuse to accept a future where keeping our children and young people housed and safe isn’t the bare minimum.”
She said the region’s public transport was either non-existent or unreliable, which limits the public from being able to freely travel across such a large area.
“This limits employment and education opportunities, social connectedness and contribution, and further disenfranchises a significant portion of the south west community,” she said.
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“We deserve access to public transport that is free, frequent and reaches every part of the South West Coast, not just Warrnambool.”
Silver said a lack of access to healthcare had reached a point which was presenting a danger to residents.
“Our general practitioners (GP) are booked solid, our hospitals are desperate for staff in all areas, and I’ve personally had to travel over two hours for a single specialist appointment,” she said.
“I could access that healthcare because I had a car, money to pay for the appointment, and a GP to help me find a provider.
“This is a never-ending, painful and expensive experience for those with chronic health conditions.
“The Greens believe government is responsible for funding universal, timely health care for all Victorians and for ensuring equality of access regardless of ability to pay, and I wholeheartedly agree.”
Silver said she expected this year’s election to be unpredictable as members of the community looked to genuine options outside of the major parties.
“This election will be one of the most volatile we’ve seen, precisely because south west locals have given the Liberal Party decades of chances, and they continue to make it clear that their allegiance lies with their billionaire mates, not our community,” she said.
“South West Coast deserves leadership they can trust to not be bought, and The Greens don’t accept corporate donations.
“This, along with Greens policies that will immediately address our ongoing housing crisis, cost of living and access to healthcare, are why I align with The Greens.
“We both want what’s best for everyday people living everyday lives in the south west, and we’re willing to demand change.”
Silver said she looked forward to upcoming opportunities to speak with residents ahead of the election, learning more about what issues need to be addressed and making her pitch for a progressive voice leading the south west.
“I’ve attended several community events in western Victoria in the past few weeks to meet with community members, and I plan on spending as much time as I can on the road in the region,” she said.
“It’s especially important to me to connect with those who live outside of Warrnambool, in more rural areas or smaller towns around the region.
“I’m organising many opportunities to meet with community members across the region in the coming weeks.”
