• Advocacy and partnerships

Port Phillip motions passed at MAV State Council

Published 10 October 2025
For more information on Advocacy at City of Port Phillip, visit

Cr Buckingham with City of Glen Eira Councillors Li Zhang and Luca Ragni

On Friday 10 October, Cr Libby Buckingham represented City of Port Phillip at the Municipal Association of Victoria's (MAV) state conference. It was a significant day, with over 80 motions considered by councils across the state.

City of Port Phillip proudly contributed to the sector-wide advocacy agenda, with five motions successfully passed and now adopted into MAV’s advocacy platform: 

  1. Support for local climate action: Endorsing initiatives that accelerate climate action at the local level.
  2. Improving acute mental health response programs: Advocating for better support and coordination in mental health crisis response in line with the Community Safety Roundtable Report.
  3. Protecting and expanding urban tree canopy: Calling for reforms in planning and vegetation management to safeguard green cover.
  4. Streamlining planning scheme amendments: Seeking improvements to the approvals process to enhance efficiency and transparency.
  5. A transport plan for Victoria: Supporting the development of a comprehensive, statewide transport strategy. 

While all resolutions received strong support, Council is especially pleased that the motion calling for improved acute mental health response programs was passed unanimously. This resolution reflects key recommendations from the recent Community Safety Roundtable Report and highlights Council’s commitment to advocating for urgent, evidence-based mental health reforms. 

The motions put forward by Council align closely with Council’s advocacy priorities. Participation in MAV’s State Council provides a valuable platform for Council to amplify the voice of our community and advocate for meaningful change at the state level. By joining with other councils, we strengthen our collective voice and enhance our ability to influence decisions that matter to our residents. 

Cr Buckingham said, "We are proud to partner with our neighbouring councils, near and far, on issues of sector-wide significance and look forward to working together to bring these advocacy items to life." 

These motions reflect Council’s commitment to progressive, community-focused policy and collaboration across the sector. 

Learn more about MAV’s advocacy agenda: mav.asn.au/who-we-are/governance/state-council