Member for Ringwood
Dustin Halse, served as the State Member for Ringwood, 2018-2022.
Throughout the 59th Parliamentary term, Dustin advocated to bring greater government attention, focus and commitment to the issues and needs of the people of the District of Ringwood.
Dustin’s central aim for Ringwood was to secure the intergenerational investments that the eastern suburbs of Melbourne needed and deserved. This materialised in the record budget investments and commitments to public education and school facilities, public transport infrastructure, social and affordable housing, inclusive community sporting facilities and the local public hospital.
Dustin is a strong and passionate advocate in multiple public policy areas – and used his experience and expertise to highlight issues of economic reform, mental health and healthcare, homelessness and housing affordability, secure work and industrial rights, modern cities and innovation, equality, youth justice and the environment within parliamentary and public debate.
Prior to serving in the Victorian Parliament, Dustin worked has an academic and research fellow at Swinburne University of Technology, and as a national policy, communications and political director within the trade union movement. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Monash University), Master of International Development and Environmental Analysis (Monash University), PhD (Swinburne University of Technology) and executive certificates in political leadership, finance and strategic management from Monash University, Melbourne Business School and the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, respectively.
Dustin remains a proud resident of the eastern suburbs.
Projects & Accomplishments
From 2018-2022, the District of Ringwood secured more than 300 local state government investments and projects. A brief overview of these projects is listed below. All achievements and initiatives were only made possible through community support.
Health Workers are Heroes
Maroondah Hospital in Ringwood East has provided world class healthcare to our community for more than 50 years.
However, now is the time for a major rebuild. In the 2021/2022 Budget, the Victorian Labor Government invested $200k to commence planning work on a new Hospital – and in September 2022 we announced a billion dollar rebuild – the biggest public health project the eastern suburbs has ever secured. Thanks to our all our amazing local health workers – we owe you a great debt.
Secondary School Upgrades
Secondary school students, and local education staff, deserve the very best facilities in which to learn, grow and teach. That’s why the Victorian Labor Government 2018-2022 has delivered record funding to upgrade facilities at every government secondary school in the district.
Thanks to the advocacy of dedicated staff and school communities at Ringwood Secondary College, Norwood Secondary College and Mullauna Secondary College, all are undergoing multimillion dollar upgrades.
Supporting Early & Primary School Education
We all know how important early and primary school education is to the development of our youngest students. It’s been a central focus of my time in office to boost government investment in this area.
From the $10 million upgrade secured for Mount Pleasant Road Primary School in Nunawading, to the $50k delivered to Rangeview Preschool to renovate its washrooms, the education of our youngest is receiving the attention and funding it rightly deserved.
Removing Level Crossings
Every local knows the frustration of being stuck at a level crossing when the boom gates are down – which is why in 2021, I was thrilled to announce and kick off work to remove the last two level crossings in our district at Bedford Road and Dublin Road, both to be gone by 2025.
In addition, we are building a new train station at Ringwood East.
These three projects represent the biggest public transport investment our community has secured in more than three decades. Great for jobs, great for commuters, and great for our local economy.
Backing our Local Community Clubs
Our local sports and recreation clubs are a vital part of what makes our community so vibrant.
I’m proud to have sponsored and secured funding for more than 50 local clubs – from the biggest to the smallest.
Our focus has been to support inclusive, accessible and female friendly facilities so all can participate. From a multimillion-dollar stadium rebuild at Jubilee Park – to $140 for a new tear drop banner for the Mitcham Laughing Club, the 2018-2022 period has seen record funding delivered.
Thanks to all our local clubs for your tremendous work in supporting all participants during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Promoting Diversity and LGBTIQ Inclusion
Supporting people to simply be who they are, for who they love is – and to feel safe, accepted and included sets our state apart.
In Victoria, we stand with the LGTBTIQ community, always. It’s why we have banned the dangerous and harmful practise of conversion therapy, built the new Victorian Pride Centre, created Victoria’s first whole of government LGBTIQ strategy and delivered birth certificate reforms.
In the east, we have spent 2018-2022 supporting local community organisation PRIDE rounds and IDAHOBIT events – the message being ‘just be you’. I will continue to support our LGBTIQ community.
Historic Social Housing Boost
Providing all with a secure and permanent place to call home is so important.
In 2020, the Victorian Labor Government invested a historic $5.3 billion to build nearly 15,000 new social housing dwellings across Victoria.
In our community, we have built a new family violence accommodation centre, and invested $80 million to deliver 230 new homes in Whitehorse and Maroondah. Everybody deserves a place to call home.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Reform
For far too long, those living with mental ill-health suffered under the failures of a broken system of care and the tremendous burden of stigma.
The Victorian Labor Government launched Australia’s first Mental Health Royal Commission, and in 2021 committed to implement every recommendation.
Locally, a mental health practitioner is now working in every government secondary school, and Ringwood’s first mental health hub centre will be launched in 2023. Because mental health is just as important as physical health.
A Green, Clean and Prosperous Future
Our natural environment is changing, and in response we need to rapidly decarbonise our economy and shift towards a healthier, more sustainable, and more prosperous and innovative future.
During the 2018-2022 parliamentary term, the Victorian Labor Government implemented the most ambitious set of energy and environmental policies to tackle global warming of any jurisdiction in Australia.
Our legislated emissions reduction targets, world leading battery storage initiative, and investments in renewable energy projects are creating tens of thousands of jobs and the green economy we need.
In our local district, thousands of households have utilised the solar panel and battery grants program, turning their homes into clean energy generators.
Secure Work, Gender-based, and First Nations Reform
All individuals need access to a living wage or income support. That’s why the Victorian Labor Government has implemented new wage theft laws, provided hundreds of thousands of casual workers with access to sick pay, and created nation leading workplace manslaughter laws.
It’s also why we have passed Australian first gender equity laws, mandated public service gender quotas, and boosted business support programs to attract and retain workers. And as important as almost any other reform during the 2018-2022 parliamentary term, has been Victoria’s commitment and journey towards Treaty, an Australian first.
Thanks to the First Peoples’ Assembly, and to local traditional owners at the Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place for your generosity in working with us. Always was, Always will be.
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