Rob Humphreys has worked as a Christian minister for 32 years, including the last six years at the Uniting Church. He grew up in Byron Bay, NSW and has lived and worked in Melbourne for 20 years after also living in NSW, the USA and Gippsland.

For most of his adult life, Rob identified with the conservative side of politics. Since the late 1990s his political sympathies have changed. "The Tampa crisis just prior to the 2001 Federal election was when I decided enough was enough. I did a bit of homework and came to realise I belonged with the Greens."

"I have always felt a strong concern that people – whatever their background or circumstances – should be treated with respect and compassion. Sadly, in our current national and world situation there are many people who fail to receive such treatment."

Thanks to Rob's work, suburban Uniting Church Council successfully entered into a partnership agreement with the Also Foundation to establish Melbourne’s first gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, intersex transitional housing service for young people aged 16-21. Rob sees this as a small but significant contribution to assisting vulnerable young people in our society.

Rob is concerned about the kind of society, nation and world his children and grandchildren ("if any of my 3 married children oblige me with such!") will inherit. In his lifetime, Rob senses that we have gone backwards in many areas of public and communal life. Governments (of both major parties) have succumbed to an economic ideology that is driven by greed and self-interest. As a result, the poor are getting poorer and the minority rich are getting richer.

"I long for a world characterized by trust and cooperation across local and national boundaries. It is my conviction that The Greens can provide much needed leadership in the creation of a much fairer, just and liveable world for all people."

To contact Rob Humphreys, please call 0438 190 248.

The Western Metropolitan Region covers an area from Craigieburn in the north to Williamstown and Altona in the south, and from Werribee, Caroline Springs and Sydenham in the west to Gladstone Park, Coburg, Moonee Ponds and Footscray in the east.

For more information on the new electoral system for the Upper House, visit the Victorian Electoral Commission's website: http://www.vec.vic.gov.au