Meet Greens Candidate For Inner West Council Damun-Stanmore Ward: Flynn Franklin-Baker

Greens candidate for Inner West Council Flynn Franklin-Baker has thrown his hat in the ring in this year’s local election. 

Who is Flynn Franklin-Baker?

Flynn Franklin-Baker grew up on Gumbaynggirr country in Nambucca Heads on the Mid North Coast. He moved to the Inner West in 2017 to complete his senior schooling at Newtown High School of the Performing Arts and has since made the Inner West his home, renting in the area for six years.

The 24-year-old is deeply committed to community engagement and dedicated to fostering inclusivity, and social justice within the Inner West. 

“I am so fortunate to live in the Inner West where our community strongly supports the rights of queer people to live free from discrimination,” Franklin-Baker said. 

While Franklin-Baker has called the Inner West “home”, he has been deeply involved with the LGBTQIA+ community. He has captained an open recreational sports team dedicated to providing a judgement-free zone for queer people to participate in sport and exercise. 

He has coordinated several Mardi Gras Floats for the Sydney Bisexual+ Community, sat on panels discussing his lived experience as a bisexual+ person, and hosted queer nightclubs events that aim to create a safe party space for all sexualities and gender identities.

“I’m excited to be one of your Greens candidates for the Stanmore (Damun) ward. I hope that we can create the progressive council that the Inner West deserves!” Franklin-Baker shared in a statement. 

Greens Policies 

Some key policies that the Greens are focused on include: 

Climate Leadership: The Greens aim to establish the Council as a national leader in climate action. Their plan involves investing in renewable energy, expanding bike and pedestrian networks, and transitioning to electric vehicles. 

They also plan to achieve net-zero carbon emissions, support solar adoption by waiving installation fees, equip Council buildings with solar panels, and enhance tree canopy cover.

Affordable Housing: The Greens seek to improve housing affordability through the introduction of a developer levy. They want to find “creative solutions to help deliver increased density and diversity, preserve our historic housing stock, retain embodied energy and make it financially possible for regular homeowners to do so.” They plan to expand the Council’s affordable housing trust and increase the availability of public and social housing.

Care for people through quality services and reducing living costs: The Greens plan to provide $1 entry for Council pools for all pensioner and concession card holders as well as expand council run playgroups and childcare. They will freeze fees for childcare, aquatic and recreation centres for two years. 

Reduce congestion: The Greens are dedicated to tackling congestion by investing in cycleways and public transport, not more roads and tollways. The Greens will complete the Greenway shared footpath, cycleway and nature corridor from Iron Cove to the Cooks River.

You can reach Flynn Franklin-Baker through the following contact details:

Instagram: @flynnfb

X: https://x.com/flynn_fb

Facebook: Flynn Franklin-Baker, Greens Candidate for Inner West Council 

Sydney’s council elections take place on Saturday, September 14, 2024. 

For more information on candidates and the election process, click here.