Amaya Castro Williams

Hi, I’m Amaya. I’m running in this year’s council election as a candidate with Victorian Socialists because I believe in a society that puts people before profit.

I’m a Yarra local and have lived in the area for 15 years. I’m a student and retail worker, and a member of the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union.

Today, the people at the top are seeing their wealth grow rapidly, while many at the bottom are being left behind. Rents and mortgages are skyrocketing, and public housing in Yarra has been savaged by cuts and sell-offs. Councils have a responsibility to stand up to property developers and big corporations. If elected, I’ll fight for rent caps and against the destruction of public housing.

I’ve been an organiser and activist since I was sixteen. In that time, I’ve been involved in campaigns for refugee rights, against racism and the far right, and for action on climate change. Recently I helped organise the historic University and High School strikes for Palestine. I believe local councils should be a place where questions of social justice are raised and acted on.

If elected in October, I’ll fight for our community, not corporations and property developers.