Saltwater Ward

Janet was one of the founding members of the Greens in Victoria. She has been Convenor of the Inner West branch and Western Suburbs region, on the State Executive and State Convenor. She was awarded one of the first two life memberships of the party in 2002.

Janet was elected to Maribyrnong Council in 2003 with a primary vote of 42% - the second highest primary vote for an endorsed Greens candidate in Australia. She was re-elected in 2006, and became Mayor, despite being only one Green on a highly politicised Council of seven.

Janet has been passionate about tackling climate change since studying meteorology twenty-five years ago. She has over twenty years experience working with community organisations and government. She spent many years campaigning for East Gippsland’s forests, and was Ride to Work Co-ordinator for Bicycle Victoria. She has combined expertise in community development and involvement, strategic planning, and public policy with strong research and analytical skills.

Janet is an expert facilitator, with extensive experience in planning and running community forums, ranging from community reference groups to large workshops. She enjoys working with groups of people to help them to achieve their goals, and planning and implementing processes for social and behavioural change helping to achieve a more sustainable society. She works as a consultant facilitator when not busy with Council duties.

During her time on Council, Janet has focused on promoting and working towards sustainable transport, revitalisation of the Footscray shopping centre, tackling heavy truck traffic through Maribyrnong and community involvement in Council's decision making. She was instrumental in setting up the Maribyrnong Truck Action Group.

Janet chairs the Metropolitan Transport Forum, a body which brings 18 Melbourne municipalities together to network, promote and advocate for sustainable transport.

Janet is also a Vice-President of the Victorian Local Governance Association and convenes their climate change working group and their women’s policy group.

Janet was awarded the Municipal Association of Victoria's McArthur Fellowship in late 2005. This award is given each year to one Victorian Councillor to allow them to undertake research of relevance to local government. The award funded a trip in mid-2006 to North America and Northern Europe researching sustainable transport and planning, and the role of community planning. She received the 2006 Cycling Promotion Fund’s  national Bicycling Achievement Award for contribution to cycling by a politician.

Janet, is also a member of the MAV - VicRoads Liaison Committee the MAV Transport and Infrastructure Advisory Committee, and the state government’s roundtable on public transport. She chairs the City of Maribyrnong’s Planning Forum, Disability Advisory Committee and Footscray Reference Group.

Elected: 2003, re-elected 2006

Phone:0439 363 846

Email: janetrice@vic.greens.org.au