I have lived and worked in and around the northern suburbs for much of my life. I grew up in Watsonia and was educated at Watsonia Primary School, Watsonia Secondary School and La Trobe University, where I received a Bachelor of Economics.
My well known father is John Halfpenny, former Metal Workers Union Secretary and Secretary of Victorian Trades Hall Council (VTHC) during the dark days of the Kennett Government.
I have spent over twenty years working in the trade union movement, firstly with the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and more recently with the Victorian Trades Hall Council.
My two children are being raised in the northern suburbs. They attend Northcote High School and Preston West Primary, where I am an active parent volunteer. I am also involved at their sporting clubs, the Northern Rebels Junior Basketball Club and West Preston Junior Football Club.
During the years of the Howard Government, I was very proud to play a key organising role in the fight against the Liberal Party’s unfair workplace laws, Workchoices.
At the Victorian Trades Hall Council I have run numerous industrial campaigns on workers’ rights, the most recent one being a targeted multi-lingual campaign about work rights for emerging migrant communities.
I understand the challenges faced by the people of Thomastown. With a young family based in the Northern suburbs, I know all-too-well that education, health and job security are priorities for this electorate.
I am particularly familiar with residents in the manufacturing dependent suburbs of Glenroy, Reservoir, Thomastown and Lalor, and hope to be able to provide them with the grassroots representation they deserve.
I want to help deliver jobs and infrastructure; better health and hospital care, and provide great schools for our children - the things only a Labor government can and will deliver.