Walter Villagonzalo is running for a seat in the Upper House for the Western Metropolitan Melbourne as an independent candidate. The Victorian Election is on 26 November 2022.
Here’s an interview with Walter Villagonzalo.
What inspires you to become the first Filipino in Parliament?
What inspires me is the thought that if I become successful and become a Member of State Parliament, I could inspire more Filipinos in Victoria and Australia to become active citizens and aspire to be leaders not just in Filipino organisations but also in the migrant community space and their local community including becoming Councillors and Mayors as well as Members of Parliament both State and Federal. I hope that will also inspire other migrants to become more active citizens and become community leaders. The more good leaders we have, the better for our community and the better for our children and our children’s children.
What are your general core advocacies, and if elected, how will you be able to support them?
My core advocacies are local jobs for local residents; activating the East Werribee Precinct to create a new business hub and create up to 60,000 local jobs. I want funding for more trees in the west. I want government to provide more funding for programs that support active citizenship, volunteering and social enterprises. I want to see local transport co-operatives, housing co-operatives and community energy groups. I want more support for small business and multicultural communities including more meeting and events facilities and co-working spaces.
The Upper House or Legislative Council is a house of review and most laws are introduced in the Lower House but I will find ways to get my advocacies implemented. I was only one of 11 Councillors at Wyndham Council but I was able to successfully achieve my objectives by getting the support of my fellow Councillors. I can do the same in Parliament.
What have you been organising as part of the campaign?
Many members of our community are helping and are pledging support. It is heart-warming. Some have already organised fundraising events and have invited me to their social functions and speak at their events effectively helping many more Filipinos be aware that I am a candidate and 95% of the time Filipinos will vote for another Filipino if they know the candidate in their Region is a credible and qualified Filipino. The task is huge, that it is more than 520,000 eligible voters in the WMR. Without the support of the Filipino community, I will NOT WIN. The support is there, we just need to harness that. The campaign team has a plan and we just need to do our best …. and take it one day at a time.
How do you intend to reach voters outside of the Filipino community?
For 36 years I served not just the Filipino community but everyone in the Region, especially in Wyndham and especially the migrant community. For that reason, I received the 2015 Community Engagement Award and was named the 2015 Citizen of the Year in Wyndham – the only non-white migrant to receive that honour. My social enterprise, The Migrant Hub was also named 2015 Community Organisation of the Year and I was named 2016 Social Enterprise Champion by Social Traders in a national search. I have been helping different community groups including non-Filipinos establish their social enterprises. I was a member of the Regional Advisory Council of the Victorian Multicultural Commission and was a Member of the Ministerial Council for Volunteers of Victoria. I have served everyone who asked for my help regardless of background. I have friends and supporters from all ethnic groups. I am confident but not complacent.
The Victorian Election is on 26 November 2022. You can vote at early voting centres between Monday 14 November and Friday 25 November. You don’t need a reason to vote early. Find an early voting centre here.
To vote for Walter Villagonzalo, you must mark ‘1’ next to ‘U’ on the ballot paper, above the line.
