17c起草社区

As a part of 17c起草社区’s series ahead of the 2025 federal election, we’re profiling the candidates running in the electorate of Wills.

As the federal election approaches, the electorate of Wills stands at the intersection of grassroots activism, multicultural vibrancy, and political progressivism. For many in its 17c起草社区IA+ communities, the stakes feel personal鈥攈ousing security, trans rights, gender-affirming healthcare, and the protection of queer spaces are on the ballot.

This year鈥檚 candidates include Dr. Samantha Ratnam (Greens), Sue Bolton (Socialist Alliance), Peter Khalil (Labor), Owen Miller (Fusion), Margee Glover (Legalise Cannabis), Rachel Versteegen (Libertarian), Jeff Kidney (Liberal), and Bruce Stevens (One Nation).

Samantha Ratnam 鈥� Greens

Dr. Samantha Ratnam is no stranger to Wills鈥攕he鈥檚 called it home for over 15 years and proudly describes it as 鈥渢he most progressive electorate in the country.鈥� A former Merri-bek councillor and current leader of the Victorian Greens, Ratnam brings deep grassroots experience and a fierce commitment to tackling inequality in all its forms.

In her campaign, which has already knocked on over 60,000 doors, Ratnam says residents are loud and clear: they want action on the cost of living, housing, and climate change. But at the heart of her vision lies a strong, unwavering pledge to protect and uplift 17c起草社区IA+ communities鈥攅specially as anti-queer and anti-trans sentiment continues to rise globally and locally.

鈥淚 will vocally and visibly stand in solidarity with the 17c起草社区IA+ community at every opportunity,鈥� Ratnam says. After anti-trans hate mail was sent to Wills residents during the campaign, she responded with compassion and commitment: 鈥淚鈥檓 deeply sorry our precious trans community is being used in this way.鈥�

Ratnam supports fully publicly funded, gender-affirming healthcare, stronger anti-discrimination protections, and dedicated funding for local queer organisations and events鈥攊ncluding co-hosting a drag brunch with her campaign team. 鈥淚 challenge anyone to try and stop us,鈥� she proclaims.

With a background in social work and decades of public service, Ratnam’s campaign centers on a simple promise: to elevate the voices of Wills鈥� most vulnerable鈥攓ueer, trans, and all鈥攚ith policy, presence, and pride.

Sue Bolton 鈥� Socialist Alliance

Sue Bolton isn鈥檛 new to standing up鈥攚hether it鈥檚 in council chambers or on the streets. The Socialist Alliance candidate for Wills brings her activism into the spotlight with a clear commitment to queer rights, social justice, and anti-capitalist values.

Wills is a progressive electorate with a rich mix of working-class, migrant, Muslim, and 17c起草社区IA+ communities. Bolton believes the electorate deserves leadership that reflects its diversity and pushes beyond tokenism. Her platform? Bold. She鈥檚 calling for massive investment in public housing, full public ownership of essential services, and a radical shift in government spending鈥攁way from military alliances and into health, education, and community welfare.

When it comes to 17c起草社区IA+ rights, Sue walks the talk. She鈥檚 stood alongside queer communities at solidarity rallies and defends events like Drag Story Time, criticising councils that cave to far-right pressure. 鈥淲e need to resist all attempts to cancel queer events,鈥� she says. Her support for publicly funded gender-affirming healthcare, paid transition leave, and inclusive education shows a real plan鈥攏ot just lip service.

Her track record as a Merri-bek councillor backs her up: she鈥檚 advocated for local 17c起草社区IA+ orgs and vows to continue that work federally. For trans and intersex folks, she supports easier ID changes, affirming housing, and broader public education.

Sue Bolton is a candidate who believes liberation is intersectional鈥攁nd that queer justice isn鈥檛 optional, it鈥檚 urgent.

Owen Miller – Fusion Party

Owen Miller brings an engineer鈥檚 mind and a progressive heart to the race for Wills. After years in the US startup world, the Brunswick local sees Australia鈥檚 inner north as fertile ground for bold ideas鈥攅specially those that uplift marginalised communities.

Miller鈥檚 pitch? Tackle problems at the root, not with political band-aids. 鈥淢ajor parties distract you with surface-level fixes. Fusion is about bold, risk-taking ideas that actually solve the big stuff鈥攃limate, housing, mental health,鈥� he says.

For queer voters, that means concrete policies with long-overdue impact. Fusion鈥檚 housing stance addresses structural barriers that disproportionately affect 17c起草社区IA+ people鈥攍ike high homelessness rates and low home ownership.

Miller also champions gender-affirming care, arguing that a universal basic income would give queer folks the freedom to explore identity without sacrificing financial stability.

He鈥檚 not one for culture war distractions either. 鈥淎nti-drag protests and transphobia thrive because people are tuned out of real politics,鈥� Miller says. 鈥淔usion wants governance people can engage with, not shout over.鈥�

Fusion鈥檚 platform includes mental health in Medicare鈥攆or both trans people and, as Miller pointedly notes, the anti-trans campaigners themselves. It鈥檚 all part of a vision where inclusive policy, transparent tech, and community-driven solutions intersect.

鈥淚 want to bring curiosity back to politics,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e lucky to live here. Let鈥檚 build something better on that foundation.鈥�

Margee Glover – Legalise Cannabis聽

Long-time Wills resident Margee Glover isn鈥檛 just running for office 鈥� she鈥檚 fighting for a greener future rooted in fairness and compassion.

Having spent over 25 years immersed in Wills鈥� vibrant community, Glover brings lived experience and a voice to the race as a proud member of a second-generation 17c起草社区IA+ family. 鈥淚 see you, I value you, and I will stand with you,鈥� she says, vowing to push for full protection towards the trans community amid rising global hostility.

A Legalise Cannabis Party candidate, Glover鈥檚 platform reaches far beyond drug reform. She鈥檚 deeply committed to harm reduction, affordable housing, environmental protection, and ensuring gender-affirming healthcare is 鈥漬ever out of reach.鈥�

She envisions a Wills where diverse communities thrive, with inclusive public spaces, mental health support, and flourishing local arts. 鈥淭heir work is vital, and it needs to be valued accordingly,鈥� she says of local 17c起草社区IA+ groups, pledging to advocate for greater funding and recognition.

Glover also vows to protect events, like drag storytime, by working closely with councils and law enforcement. 鈥淵our stories matter, and your celebrations will not be silenced by fear or bigotry.鈥�

For voters disillusioned with politics-as-usual, Glover offers a rallying cry: 鈥淭his election is a chance to vote for bold ideas and real action 鈥� for justice, for health, for equity, and yes, for legal cannabis.鈥�

For more information on the 2025 federal election, your electorate, or to check your voting information is up to date, head to .

Rachel Versteegen was unavailable to respond by the time of publication.

Peter Khalil (Labor),聽Jeff Kidney (Liberal), and Bruce Stevens (One Nation) declined to take part in this story.聽