Independent candidate for Kalkallo
Victorian Legislative Assembly (Lower House)
Rebeca Islam
People before pressure.
Prevention before crisis.
A Victoria where people thrive, not just survive.
About Rebeca
Why I am stepping forward
I never set out to enter politics. My work has always been about people: listening to them, supporting families and helping individuals rebuild their lives when circumstances have become overwhelming.
Working across trauma support, relationships, disability, youth services, family violence and child protection has given me a close view of the pressures people carry. It has also taught me something important: we cannot keep asking people to cope better while ignoring the conditions that make everyday life harder.
I can support one person or one family at a time. But the decisions that shape housing affordability, access to healthcare, public transport infrastructure, community safety and economic opportunity affect entire neighbourhoods. That is why I want to bring what I have learned into public life.
I am not interested in politics for the title. I am interested in what political decisions mean for the people who live with their consequences.
My vision
The Victoria I believe in
A wealthy society should offer more than the chance to scrape by. People should be able to pay their bills, feel safe at home, raise their children, access healthcare and still have time and energy to enjoy life.
I think about an ordinary Tuesday: parents sharing breakfast without the anxiety of another overdue bill, young people able to see a future for themselves, workers with enough left after essentials to participate in community life and older people living with security and dignity.
That should not be an impossible ambition. It should be the measure of whether our policies are working.
My approach
Address the causes
Addressing the causes, not just the consequences.
We need to stop treating every preventable problem as an unavoidable crisis. Strong public services matter, but so do the decisions that reduce the need for emergency help in the first place.
I believe in early action, transparent decision-making and practical solutions that can be measured by their effect on people’s lives. Public money, public institutions and political power must serve the public interest.
- Early action
- Transparent decision-making
- Practical solutions measured by their effect on people’s lives
My priorities for Victoria
Five connected priorities, underpinned by accountable government.
Affordability
Give people their lives back
The cost of living is not just a question of dollars. When housing, groceries and energy absorb a household’s income, they also take away time, choice and peace of mind.
I will advocate for practical state measures that ease household pressures, improve housing affordability, strengthen consumer protections and consider the real-world consequences of economic decisions.
Community safety
Prevent harm and protect people
Everyone should feel safe in their home and neighbourhood. That means effective policing and accountability, alongside prevention, early intervention and meaningful support for people affected by violence.
I want better cooperation between police, schools, health services and community organisations. We should judge safety measures by whether they prevent harm and build trust, not simply by the number of cameras or penalties introduced.
Responsible development
Protect Kalkallo and Melbourne’s northern growth corridor
Kalkallo and Melbourne’s northern growth corridor deserve investment and opportunity, but local communities should not be left to carry costs that have not been properly examined.
Major developments, including large mega AI data centres, must be assessed for their demands on electricity, water, land and infrastructure. I support transparent impact assessments, genuine consultation, enforceable environmental safeguards and fair contributions from developers towards the infrastructure they require.
I support innovation. I also believe investment must be shown to serve the long-term public interest.
Healthcare
Make support accessible before crisis
People should be able to seek help early, rather than wait until their circumstances become critical. I will advocate for stronger Victorian public hospitals, adequate staffing, shorter waiting times and accessible community-based mental health and trauma services.
Where responsibilities sit with the Commonwealth, including Medicare coverage, I will advocate for cooperation and reform while remaining clear about what the Victorian Parliament can deliver.
Public transport
Kalkallo is growing. Our transport must keep up.
A growing community cannot thrive on transport services that leave people waiting, changing connections and losing hours of their day. A reliable bus or train should open doors to work, education and opportunity, not become another obstacle.
About 2 hrs
Kalkallo to La Trobe University, Bundoora
1 hr 25 min
Kalkallo to Melbourne, at a minimum
By public transport, from published journey-planner estimates.
Published journey-planner estimates put a public transport trip from Kalkallo to La Trobe University in Bundoora at about two hours, and a trip to Melbourne at about one hour and twenty-five minutes at a minimum. That is time students and workers could spend studying, earning or being with family.
I will advocate for:
- more frequent and better-coordinated local buses and trains
- reliable connections to Donnybrook and Craigieburn stations
- practical links to Broadmeadows and La Trobe University
- safe and accessible stops and interchanges
- transport planning that keeps pace with housing growth.
I will also press for transparent reporting on actual door-to-door travel times, service reliability and the needs of students, shift workers and families.
Why these issues matter to me
A personal commitment, not a political performance
My professional experience has shaped my politics, but it does not define the whole of who I am. What matters most is the principle behind it: people deserve dignity, a fair opportunity and a government that takes their concerns seriously.
I have watched families work hard and still struggle to get ahead. I have seen how decisions made far from people's homes can determine whether they feel secure, supported and heard. Those experiences have made me less willing to accept that hardship is simply the way things must be.
Events beyond Australia have also reinforced for me the importance of human rights, democratic safeguards and accountable power. The suffering of Palestinians and the political decisions made internationally have prompted me to ask difficult questions about whose voices are heard and whose interests prevail. Those questions matter here too, even though the circumstances are different.
We should never wait until a problem reaches our own doorstep before deciding it deserves attention. We should recognise risks early, protect civil liberties and demand that governments explain their decisions.
What I will bring to public life
I will listen carefully, challenge decisions respectfully and focus on outcomes rather than political theatre. I do not pretend to have every answer. I do believe representatives should be prepared to ask questions, learn from evidence and explain where they stand.
For me, leadership is not about being the loudest person in the room. It is about taking responsibility when something needs to change.
The future worth working for
I want a Victoria where a decent life is within reach: where people can afford the essentials, feel safe, access care, pursue opportunity and have time for their families and communities.
Our success should not be measured only by what the economy produces, but by whether people can actually live well.
“Address the causes. Build a better Victoria.”