Angelica Di Camillo came to politics through environmental engineering, not the usual party pathway. The Greens candidate for Prahran says years spent working on the transition to net-zero emissions convinced her that the barrier to change was not a shortage of solutions, but a lack of political courage and ambition.
Proud to be an engineer
Di Camillo says professional frustration, rather than a planned political career, led her to stand for office. After working in corporate energy advisory and local government, she spent several years focused on the transition to net-zero emissions. “Climate was always my number one,” she says. In her view, the main obstacle to environmental progress was not a lack of solutions, but a lack of political courage and ambition.
Di Camillo first became involved in politics in her home area of Rowville at 22. “I had no idea what I was doing,” she says, noting that she had no political background. She says handing out how-to-vote cards showed her how she could channel her energy into practical community action.
Returning after a narrow loss
Di Camillo is no stranger to the campaign trail. She has previously run for office at both state and federal levels, including Rowville in 2022, Aston in 2023, Higgins in 2024 and the Prahran by-election in 2025. After moving to St Kilda East five years ago to build a life with her partner, she sought to represent her new community in the recent Prahran by-election. She received one fewer primary vote than the eventual winner, Rachel Westaway, and finished second after preferences, 853 votes behind.
The close result was bruising but motivating. It highlighted to her the transient nature of the community and the deep-seated frustration residents feel toward the major parties, particularly regarding corporate donations and the failure of the current government to meet material needs.
Cost of living and community safety
Asked why voters should choose her, Di Camillo points to the Greens’ funding model. “I don’t take any corporate donations,” she says. “The Greens are 100% backed by the community.” She argues that this independence allows her to prioritise community needs over the interests of big business.
Di Camillo nominates cost of living and community safety as her two main priorities. On cost of living, she identifies housing as the most pressing issue, noting that more than 55% of the homes are rented. She supports ending unlimited rent increases, cutting stamp duty for home buyers, increasing investment in public housing and requiring large corporations to pay more tax to fund services including free dental care and free public transport.
On community safety, Di Camillo rejects what she calls the major parties’ “tough on crime” rhetoric. She argues instead for prevention and greater investment in frontline emergency services to address problems before they escalate. She also links safety and housing to urban planning, calling for the Punt Road overlay to be removed to make way for affordable and public housing.
A pitch based on integrity
Di Camillo says the most confronting part of campaigning is hearing from people struggling to afford groceries or access aged care. She also says constituents have raised concerns about the influence of the far right.
Di Camillo says honesty is central to her pitch to voters. “I don’t have all the answers,” she says. “If anyone tells you that they have all the answers, they’re lying to you.” She says she would work with integrity and ensure the community’s voice is represented in parliament.
In a political climate defined by cynicism, Di Camillo is betting that a candidate who listens more than she promises might be exactly what Prahran needs.
TWiSK welcomes opportunities to interview all candidates in our four focus seats: Albert Park, Brighton, Caulfield and Prahran. Email Greg to arrange your interview.
