Meet The Greens Candidate For Inner West Council Damun-Stanmore Ward: Liz Atkins

As a candidate for Inner West Council, Greens’ Liz Atkins is dedicated to community growth and revitalising the local council. 

They are a current councillor whose vision centres on transforming the community into a leader in climate action, with a focus on  active transport, community-led development, enhancing community well-being, and investing in parks and green spaces. 

Atkins’ seeks to ensure that the council meets the needs of the vibrant Inner West community.

Who is Liz Atkins?

Liz has been a resident of Gadigal land in Damun Ward since 2000, where they raised two sons and gained a deep understanding of the concerns facing families, young people, and older residents alike.

With over 30 years of experience in government, including a role as Deputy CEO at AUSTRAC, Liz brings extensive expertise in agency management, team leadership, and budget management. Liz’s background in law and experience as a former senior public servant highlights their ability to navigate complex issues effectively.

In addition to their professional career, Liz has been a dedicated advocate and volunteer in the LGBTIQ+ community for more than two decades. They have actively supported campaigns on refugee rights, climate justice, and local issues such as WestConnex, particularly as a member of the Riff Raff Radical Marching Band.

Following increased involvement with the Greens, Atkins described their growing interest in “climate, refugee and queer issues”, as well as local matters such as “WestConnex.” 

According to Atkins, “I realised that Council was where I could contribute because it’s about working with the community to improve the place we live.”

Liz is passionate about building a “diverse, connected and accessible Inner West”. 

They envision a community where residents comes together to “live, work and play in places where we all feel we belong, where we can make connections with each other and where every one of us feels safe.”

Greens Policies 

Some key policies that the Greens are focused on include: 

• Climate Leadership: The Greens aim to make the Council a national leader in climate action by investing in renewable energy, expanding bike and pedestrian networks, and transitioning to electric vehicles. The Greens plan to achieve net-zero carbon emissions, support solar adoption with waived fees, install solar on Council buildings, and increase tree canopy cover.
• Affordable Housing: The Greens will enhance housing affordability through a developer levy. They plan to expand the Council’s affordable housing trust, and increase public and social housing. 
• Development and Heritage: The Greens support community-led planning to ensure development that is  “well-located, well-designed and well-built”, while including the necessary community infrastructure.
• Traffic and Transport: The Greens will reduce congestion by investing in cycleways, public transport, and completing the Greenway shared corridor.

Liz Atkins can be reached at: Liz.Atkins@nsw.greens.org.au

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

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