Yes it's on again, election campaign time! I am officially announced as the Greens candidate for the NSW state seat of Swansea, a huge electorate currently held by ALP Robert Coombes. A very safe Labor seat with a margin of about 15%, this time it will be different! Mr Coombes has upset quite a few people with his silence of the massive overdevelopment proposal by Rose Group and Coal and Allied at Catherine Hill Bay and Gwandalan. By the way there is a rally planned for 9.30am Saturday 5 Feb at Catho if you can make it! The whole Part 3A legislation must be disposed of - it strips councils of any power and rides roughshod over local communities.
Another big issue has been Housing NSW self-approving low cost affordable housing on sites that have not been properly assessed and without undertaking any community consultation at all.
The Greens offer a real alternative to the two old parties and I believe the people of Swansea will not automatically vote ALP this time yet are not quite ready to vote for a Coalition government. I think we'll see a big swing to the Greens again in 2011!
About Me
- Phillipa Parsons
- I am a Greens councillor on Lake Macquarie City Council. I am also the Greens candidate for Swansea in this upcoming 2011 NSW state election. My biggest motivator is ensuring sustainability. This must be the key word in decision making at all levels of government. We need investment in renewable 'clean' energy sources and begin a just transition from dirty coal that pollutes the air, affects the health of entire communities and contributes to climate chaos globally. We need to ensure that we protect our communities from over-developments and protect public space. We need to ensure public education and health are top of the list of funding priorities. I appreciate feedback so don't hold back if you have something constructive to contribute! The biggest question we all need to ask ourselves is "what will you tell your grandchildren you did to address these issues?"