G21 board meeting to decide on advocacy group’s future

Advocacy group G21 has been around for more than two decades but significant change is coming, with a meeting of mayors on Friday to discuss whether it should continue to exist – and if so, in what form.

G21 chief executive Giulia Baggio with Surf Coast councillor Liz Pattison, Marsha Uppill from the group’s First Nations pillar and board chair Melissa Stephens.

The future of local advocacy group G21 is in doubt as its primary funder looks to cut costs as it seeks closer ties with other regional councils.

The G21 board, chaired by Melissa Stephens and consisting mostly of member councils’ mayors and chief executives, will meet on Friday afternoon to discuss whether the organisation can continue in some form.

The meeting comes just days after Geelong council endorsed the signing of an agreement with Wyndham City Council to jointly advocate for projects, among other things.

Additionally, City Hall’s leadership signed a memorandum of understanding with representatives from Devonport City Council on Thursday that will see both parties maximise opportunities from the Spirit of Tasmania.

Ms Stephens flagged Friday’s meeting in mid-April when she made the case for strong regional collaboration.

“G21’s strategic planning work and development of priority projects to attract investment to the region is well known and highly regarded in Canberra and Spring Street,” she said at the time.

The organisation was founded in the early 2000s and is funded primarily by the City of Greater Geelong, with the Surf Coast Shire, Colac Otway Shire and Golden Plains Shire all contributing far smaller sums.

The Borough of Queenscliffe pulled its four-figure funding commitment in recent months.

Geelong has allocated $338,750 to G21 in its 2025/26 draft budget, Surf Coast $43,000 and Colac Otway $30,000, but this money could all but evaporate depending on the outcome of the meeting.

Multiple sources familiar with the matter but unable to speak publicly said the most likely outcome would see the G21 brand remain but councils subsume its operation.

Such a result would see the role of G21 chief executive Giulia Baggio become redundant.

G21 chief executive Giulia Baggio and board chair Melissa Stephens. Picture: Supplied.

A secretariat would be established within CoGG and council representatives would meet intermittently to prioritise advocacy projects.

It is unclear whether G21’s five pillars – culture and economic development, health and wellbeing, First Nations, sustainability, and planning and transport – would remain.

The pillars are overseen by subject matter experts who volunteer their time to progress projects.

The formalisation of closer ties between City Hall and Wyndham was widely expected considering their proximity.

“This is actually a really significant strategic change for Geelong,” councillor Anthony Aitken said this week.

“What is so important about this is that Geelong’s actually recognising that we do need a formal relationship with all our neighbours, and that includes our neighbours to the north too.”

Wyndham council is based in Werribee and takes in the fast growing outer-Melbourne suburbs of Tarneit and Point Cook.

Originally published as G21 board meeting to decide on advocacy group’s future