Esther Lauaki
Brimbank council has a fresh new look and, in line with the rest of the Victoria, more women elected than ever before.
The newly elected council was sworn in for a four-year term, in an official ceremony last Tuesday which was live-streamed to the public.
Women make up the majority of the council, elected to eight of the 11 seats last weekend.
At just 23, Jasmine Nguyen, is the youngest councillor to be elected this year and will represent the Harvester ward.
The daughter of Vietnamese refugees, she said the privilege of being born in Australia has been deeply ingrained in her, along with the sense of responsibility to “give back”.
“I am immensely thankful that my family was welcomed and able to call Brimbank our home for over 20 years,” Cr Nguyen said.
“Being born, bred, and educated in Brimbank, I have continued to work and give back to the west where I can.
“I ran for council because I want to be a voice of change.
Cr Nguyen was one of six second-generation Vietnamese Australians to run for local council seats across Victoria in 2020.
“There’s still not enough representation of Vietnamese Australians in leadership, media, politics,” Ms Nguyen said.
“We could be the voice, and the bridge between two different generations and two different cultures.”
Brimbank council’s chief executive Helen Morrissey welcomed the new council and said the organisation looked forward to supporting and working closely with councillors.
The new council includes four returned councillors Victoria Borg, Sam David, Bruce Lancashire and Virginia Tachos.
Elected for the first time to Brimbank are councillors Sarah Branton, Thuy Dang, Maria Kerr, Trung Luu, Jasmine Nguyen, Jae Papalia and Ranka Rasic.
The mayoral election will be held on Tuesday November 17 at 7pm, the meeting will be live-streamed.
