Qld elections

About the Queensland state elections

The Queensland state elections were hurriedly called by Premier Anna Bligh on Monday 23 February after months of speculation, principally by Rupert Murdoch's newspaper.

This was contrary to a promise made by her on 20 March 2008, when she Bligh promised the Queensland public to serve her full term until around September 2009. In a she stated her reason for breaking that promise :

"Over recent weeks, the continued heightened election speculation has reached a point where it's now a hindrance to the certainty and stability that we so desperately need. I have reached the view that it's time to settle the election. It's time to settle the speculation so that government, business and the community can get on with the task at hand and not be distracted or destabilised by a looming election."

Of course this statement is disingenuous, and in more ways than one. At any time in the months going back to November last year Anna Bligh could have ended that speculation by simply re-affirming her promise to serve her full term.

It is disingenous in another sense, because the policies of her Government of deliberately encouraging population growth and a break neck pace of over-development has introduced enormous instability into the business and personal lives of many Queenslanders.

An obvious motive for the short duration of the election campaign is to limit the degree of proper scrutiny of her Government's record, particularly by independent candidates, such as myself, who have far more substantial differences with the ruling Labor Party than do the also pro-big-business Liberal National Party.

The elections are clearly being orchestrated to prevent effective scrutiny of the policies of either the Government or the Opposition.

On these pages we will attempt to provide that scrutiny and promote candidates who offer real alternatives to the two major parties. Those candidates are likely to be independents and, possibly, a good many Greens.

Where voters may not be able to elect their most preferred candidates, we urge that they carefully consider whether or not there are important enough differences between the major parties to warrant preferencing one above the other and resist any temptation to "just vote 1". The choice between the two major parties can still be avery importatn choice to make.

In order to help you make that choice, we will attempt to give whatever credit is due to the major parties as well as to be harshly critical of them both.

Electorates

As I find out useful information about candidates standing in the different electorates I will add them to this list. Of course, I will be focusing most on my own electorate of . The list of electorates so far covered on this site is:

, , , , , ,

,

Links

by electorate, Mount Coot-tha .

-231813">"Queenslanders have correctly chosen the lesser of two evils" in forum discussion "My election night" of 22 Mar 09 on John Quiggin's blog.

Save the Mary River Brisbane Group:

to candidates in .

Spring Hill Voice

Honest Dave Zwolenski

What was achieved by my election campaign?

The recently concluded Queensland election campaign was massively rigged against independent candidates like myself and the Greens. Not entirely unexpectedly, my was low.

My vote was

162 votes or 0.65% of the 25,092 formal votes cast as of Sunday 29 March. Such a vote was not to be entirely unexpected in the circumstances, given that I had been given almost no media exposure. Consequently few voters would have known anything about me.

At the held on the Monday before the elections, a member of the audience told me that he considered none of the candidates that had spoken that night, myself included worthy of his vote.

I would certainly have been interested to know how he felt I failed to satisfy his criteria, but never got the chance to find out. If there was nothing I could have done, then I would have liked to have asked him, why he didn't stand himself.

Indeed, that is precisely why I stood. If there had been one other candidate in my own electorate, who had stood for the goals I believed to be important and who had a realistic perspective of how to bring about those goals, then I would have gladly thrown my weight behind such a candidate.

However, there haven't been such candidates for many years in my electorate. That is why I decided to run for office myself, firstly a year ago, when I stood for lord Mayor of Brisbane and, secondly, in the state election campaign.

After I nominated I learnt of a most impressive independent candidate, who was also standing for Mount Cooth-tha. He was . However, as I put to him, in a discussion on Thursday 19 March-fn1">1 his own platform of requiring strict honesty on the part of all elected representatives, as laudable as it was, struck me insufficient -- a point which he did not reject out of hand.

My only substantial media coverage, was one interview lasting five minutes on 4ZZZ.

The ABC's Brisbane local radio station ignored my requests to be interviews or to use any of my media releases.

On one occasion, I was allowed to tell ABC listeners that there was a 'meet the candidate' night in the Mount Coot-tha electorate, but was cut off before being given the opportunity to say anything substantial about myself. That was evidently deemed by the managers to be my full quota of exposure on the ABC.

My only other exposure was on Friday 13 March when, after my sending a number of e-mails and having made several more phone calls, ABC presenter Madonna King put to state Treasurer Andrew Fraser, against whom I was standing in Mount Coot-tha, a question from me: would he commit himself to not privatising further Government owned assets?

Mr Fraser effortlessly brushed it off with a predictably ambiguous response. He claimed that the Government had no plans to privatise any more assets and that he was ideologically opposed to privatisation. In spite of having a considerable amount of material from me, that she could have used to follow up that question, Madonna King failed to use it.

Andrew Fraser had also told listeners that he had written what he told them to me in a letter.

However, when I received that letter later the same day electronically, I found what it said to be to what Mr Fraser had told listeners. However, my requests to have air time to point that out and to properly follow up on his inadequate answers to my questions were ignored.

The ABC's treatment of myself, other independent candidates and the Greens will be more fully explored in another article.

I managed to distribute about roughly 1,400 brochures (I never accurately counted them), with, perhaps 600 being handed out in person and the rest put, mostly on the Friday night just before the elections, in letterboxes.

I also created a survey which I sent to all candidates. I published all and on this web site, but failed to get even one Labor or LNP candidate to respond. A number of Greens and independents did respond.

The ABC ignored my requests to publicise that survey.

In spite of my own low vote, this campaign, like my campaign of a year ago for , was a valuable learning experience of which I will be writing more.

I have every intention of standing next time and no intention of ceasing my political activism in the meantime. Please stay tuned.

The original title of this article was "Reflections on my election campaign" - JS

Footnotes

-fn1" id="main-fn1">1. -fn1-txt">↑ That was filmed and to be included in a documentary film that Dave Zwolenski is producing. The film is to be released in May.

Media release: Lawrence Springborg out of step with the public on privatisation

During an interview on Brisbane ABC local radio's Madonna King show, today, Lawrence Springborg told listeners that he has 'no objection' to the further sell-off of publicly-owned assets.

However, independent candidate for Mount Coot-tha James Sinnamon, pointed out that only the day before, Mr Springborg's Liberal National Party had rightly taken Premier Anna Bligh to task for misleading electricity consumers by promising that no electricity consumer would be worse off as a consequence of the privatisation of Energex.

Instead, as one ABC listener had complained yesterday, he had suffered an annual hike of $450 since privatisation.

"In fact, by having, himself, voted to support the Labor's privatisation of Energex and Ergon, Mr Springborg helped make the skyrocketing of electricity and gas charges inevitable," said Mr Sinnamon.

"The sell-off of Energex, and virtually all other privatisations in recent years, have been disasters for the public interest, and there is no reason to expect that any future privatisations under a Springborg LNP government will be any better," the candidate continued.

"Mr Springborg's views on privatisation are clearly out of step with the public. As examples, in 2005, 70% of the public opposed the Howard Government's Telstra full privatisation legislation and in 2008 opposition to the NSW government's plans to privatise electricity was as high as 85%.

"If Mr Springborg wishes to persist with privatisation, then he should be prepared to defend those views before Queensland voters."

Accordingly Mr Sinnamon, in an e-mail sent to Lawrence Springborg on 19 March, reaffirmed his challenge of 11 March to publicly debate privatisation either with himself or with another candidate opposed to privatisation, before the elections are held.

James Sinnamon's similar challenge to Premier Anna Bligh and Treasurer Andrew Fraser made on 12 March still stands.

Contact:
James Sinnamon
Independent candidate for Mount Coot-tha,
0412 319669
PO Box 86, Red Hill QLD 4059

" id="appendix">Appendix: Letter to Laurence Springborg

19 March 09

Dear Lawrence Springborg,

If you intend to privatise any more of public assets I believe you have an obligation to satisfy Queensland voters that this is justified.

To date this has never happened and all privatisations have been overwhlemingly opposed by public opinion.

All privatisations, without exception, have been public policy disasters and any further privaisations undertaken by a futher LNP Government or a future Labor Government are almost certain to be no different.

I therefore challenge you or any other LNP candidate to justify in a public debate before the election your refusal to rule out any more privatisations, or, else commit yourself to not doing so until you have obtained the specific consent of the Queensland public.

My past challenge to Anna Bligh and Andrew Fraser (or any other Labor candidate) to publicly debate their pro-privatisation stances also still stands.

yours sincerely

James Sinnamon
Pro-democracy independent
candidate for Mount Coot-tha

Independent candidate responds to water policy Questionnaire

Originally published 8 Mar 09. Updated 17 Mar 09

Update: 17 Mar 09: Response from Mount Coot-tha candidates .

Briefly: Candidates in favour of damming the Mary River and driving the lungfish to extinction: Andrew Fraser
Candidates against damming the Mary River and driving lungfish to extinction: James Sinnamon, Larissa Waters, John Pollard./p>

On Sunday 8 March 2009, I received the following e-mail from David White on behalf of the Save The Mary River Brisbane Group.

We're requesting all candidates for the State election to indicate their response to just 7 questions and to return the completed document by reply email to the address shown above, or by mail to P O Box 1092 , Toombul 4012 by 15 March, 2009. Just place an X in the box that corresponds to your reply.

The responses to the survey will be distributed to voters on and before election day.

If we do not receive a response to our survey, we'll inform voters of this fact.

If you require any explanation or information regarding the questions, please contact David White on 0403 871 082 or email us (to savethemaryriverbrisbane [ AT ] yahoo.com.au>) and we'll respond immediately.

Yours sincerely,
David White

for the Save The Mary River Brisbane Group

My response follows:

Dear David,

Firstly, can I commend you for having taken this excellent initiative?

Please advise me of any responses (or non-responses) from other candidates so that I can assist in publicising them.

Before I continue, I will take this opportunity to ask all the other candidates:

Will they commit themselves now to opposing the privatisation of any of Queensland's water infrastructure during the next three year Parliamentary term?

My responses to your questionnaire are:

1. Do you support a proposal to construct a dam on the Mary River and pipe dam water to Brisbane?

No.

2. Should the Government consider using the $1,500 million for a dam for other water supply options such as the installation of more water tanks, harvesting stormwater in the city and suburbs, and putting water-saving and greywater devices in every home?

Yes. I should add that I object to the way that this money was raised and said so at the time in a letter that was printed in the Courier Mail. It was raised by the privatisation of the retail arm of Energex electricity and Ergon the state owned gas utility. We are now paying dearly for the Government's windfall with huge increases in gas and electricity charges. This was supported by both the major parties and almost certainly opposed by the majority of Queenslanders if other polls are privatisation are any guide.

3. Do you support a review of all possible options to provide a secure and sustainable water supply to SEQ?

Yes. This would include the option of ending population growth. We must bear in mind that all options, including even the provision of rainwater tanks, incur an environmental cost. Options which I consider unsuitable include: desalination, industrial water recycling, mining underground water aquifers, the Wyaralong Dam, taking water from Moreton Island.

4. Are you concerned that unique wildlife species in the Mary River are threatened with extinction if a dam is constructed on the river?

Yes. If it is true that the Traveston Dam is necessary to supply Queensland's current population, which I dispute, the extinction of the lungfish, the Mary River cod and the Mary River turtle will be the foreseeable consequence of the Queensland Government's irresponsible and deliberate encouragement of needless population growth. Population growth has also encouraged by the LNP opposition.

5. Do you support the use of recycled water for industrial and agricultural purposes?

Yes. Given that that recycling facilities have now been constructed at enormous expense to Queensland taxpayers, it would be foolish to now not put these facilities to use . However, I oppose making our industry or agriculture dependant upon expensive and technologically complex water recycling technologies which must ultimately depend unsustainably upon the burning of more fossil fuels.

6. In an emergency, yes. But governments must act to prevent foreseeable emergencies. Cramming millions more people into Queensland in coming years as both the current state Government and Opposition plan to do can only make such emergencies inevitable.

7. Do you support a proposal for every commercial and industrial building to be required to install tanks to collect, store and use stormwater runoff?

Yes.

Please contact me if you have any other questions or seek further clarification.

Other candidates are invited to send me their responses to either the questionnaire or my responses. I will place any responses on

Thanks again and best regards,

James Sinnamon
Pro-democracy independent
candidate for Mount Coot-tha
james -dot- sinnamon |AT| gmail -dot- com
0412 319669

My response was cc'd to the following candidates: John Pollard, LNP, Mount Coot-tha; Larissa Waters, Greens, Mount Coot-tha; Andrew Fraser, Labor, Mount Coot-tha; Suzanne Karamujic, Daylight Saving, Mount Coot-tha; independent, South Brisbane; Lawrence Springborg, LNP, Southern Downs; Gary Kane, Greens, South Brisbane; Liz Cunningham, independent, Mackay; , independent, Noosa; Steve Haines, Greens, Noosa.

Moreton Bay fishing Green Zones

This is a response to a comment of mine While I agree we need to protect the environment to ensure our childrens' children will also benefit from it - the implementation of the new zones has to be questioned. I am reliably informed by a member of the public (and holder of a Bachelor of environmental science) who was present during many of the meetings regarding the new Green Zones before they were implemented by the Govt, the report the government has relied upon to implement these zones was based on a thesis prepared by a govt employee - and no-one is able to get a full copy of the thesis or the results - so no-one know how scientific it is and it's certainly not independent. Some of the new green zones are in areas that will have no effect on fish numbers because they're in areas that fish to not breed or eat. The govt introduced a buy-back scheme allowing commercial fishermen to sell their licences to the govt - great in theory - however, there's a loop hole. Commercial fishermen can sell their licence and get for eg $500,000 for it and then turn around and buy another licence that has been handed back for eg $100,000 - the fishermen pocket the difference and return back to the bay to catch the same large quantity they previously were - effectively the larger commercial fishermen are buying out the smaller ones and there's no decrease to the numbers of fish being caught. That needs to be fixed. There needs to be a recreational fishing permit introduced but only if the fees go to Fisheries and not consolidated revenue so Fisheries then have funds to improve boat ramps, educate fisherman and boaties and perform more patrols. The bag limits need to be readdressed again - for example, why is 1 fisherman allowed to catch 30 bream in one outing - who is going to eat that many fish? It's extremely excessive. So with a review of the green zones, fixing the buy back schemes, introducing permits and reviewing bag limits we should be able to get a better balance. Heather Independent for Redlands

Heather Steinberg - Independent for Redlands

I'm running as an Independent Candidate for Redlands - why? Because I'm sick of government inaction regarding child safety and protection. I am tired of government forcing ridiculous restrictions on recreational fishermen while commercial fishermen and cargo ships cause more damage. I am offended that the government can discriminate against children born after 30 June by prohibiting them from attending Prep. Most Independents run in the election because, like myself, we're tired of party politics and government inaction and run because we hope we can make a change and give the voice back to the people. As we all know the parties are not interested in what we want or need, all they want is to line their pockets. What do I stand for:
  1. Tougher penalties for repeat offenders.
  2. Non release from jail for repeat sex offenders.
  3. Mandatory counselling and other service for first time sex offenders.
  4. Changes to the Green Zones (for those who don't know the report Labor relied upon to implement the new zones was done by an employee from the EPA - and no-one is allowed access to her full thesis).
  5. Changes to the Prep system by removing the cut off date so all children turning 5 can attend Prep that year.
  6. Reduction in govt advertising - the govt wastes millions of dollars per govt dept/commission in television advertising alone - wouldn't that be better spent on health, education and other services.
Heather Steinberg - Independent for Redlands See also: in the Brisbane Times of 10 Mar 09, . My comment: Whilst I share Heather's abhorrence of child abuse and, most particularly, sexual abuse, I also support due legal process even for those suspected of or found guilty of those crimes. In Dennis Ferguson's case, he was recenlty found not guilty of the most recent child sex crime of which he had been accused. In his case, as long as proper measures to monitor Dennis Ferguson to prevent repeats of his offenses, for which he has already served time in jail for, are in place, that should be the end of the matter. That said, Heather Steinberg raises other legitimate concerens. I would welcome Heather's statements of her views on the broader issues raised on this site and in my . - James Sinnamon.

Jenny Fitzgibbon, Greens candidate for Glass House

Standing for Green Jobs, renewable energy technologies, preventative health, sustainable livelihood and culture. Check out the Queensland Greens Green Jobs, Energy and Sustainable Water Policies .

When YOU choose to vote Greens 1 (and then make your informed choice between the other two parties) you get.

  • to send a message to the old parties - make your policies lean
    toward Social equity, financial justice and show real leadership on
    Climate Change NOW
  • The knowledge that you are sustaining Glass House into your childrens future.
  • A strong, passionate, caring voice with no attachment to
    lobbyists or those interested in private gain at the expense of the
    public good.

In Glass House I am committed to

  • Improving public transport, having a More affordable Go!Card to reward use of public transport. I will work with the government to bring about a strategy of free public transport for under 21s and seniors to encourage our young people out of car dependent habits.
  • No matter who is in 'power' I will stand tall for a complete halt to good farmland being drowned, concreted or mined. Local food is low carbon, healthy, fresh and provides local jobs.
  • Stopping the Traveston Dam to preserve Mary Valley farmland and the river's unique ecology.
  • Encouraging and supporting local food markets and market gardens, ensuring fairer prices for farmers.
  • Providing solar panels to the aged, to schools and to nursing homes, combining care for the most vulnerable with reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  It also creates green jobs.
  • Greatly increasing funding and staffing levels in schools and healthcare facilities, focusing on preventative initiatives.
  • Involving indigenous Elders to resolve the issue of stolen wages so that reconciliation can proceed and working to bring Aboriginal health in line with that enjoyed by all.
  • Supporting the residents of Glasshouse Mountains in their opposition to low flying aircraft and I deplore the state government initiatives to establish a new airport and helicopter training school close to residential areas.
  • Implementing an affordable housing strategy and looking at creative ways of housing our young people without costing the earth.
  • Being available to the electorate to listen to your concerns by holding regular 'mobile office' days around the electorate. I have a website  and will be readily contactable by phone or email to glass.house [ AT ] qld.greens.org.au.

And about me personally:

I am an industrial design engineer (designing phones, security sensors, an ammonia printer and shower components in my time), trained at the National College of Art & Design in Dublin. I emigrated from Ireland 20 years ago to pursue my career in Sydney. I have also worked as office manager and fundraising coordinator for Oxfam and as an aged carer here on the Sunshine Coast.

With Oxfam I learned of the connections between poverty in developing countries, over-consumption in the West and global environmental degradation.

Since moving to Maleny 10 years ago I have been an administrator in my partners bush revegetation and seed business and a professional musician. I love camping, reading and painting.

In my 45 years I have been involved in many environmental education projects and campaigns, including one of the first Greenhouse Education campaigns to tour the NT.

Development, jobs and growth need not cost us our environment. There is neither economy nor comfort without a sound environment. Political will is the missing ingredient.

My commitment is to a healthy environment for the future, social equity, community building and peace. In the Qld Parliament I will work constructively with the elected government AND YOU to meet these goals on your behalf.

 

Original on . See also: .

"Meet the candidate" night - Mt Coot-tha electorate

" id="Brisbane">Brisbane

 

 

Monday Night, 16th March 2009 6.30PM till 8.30PM-ish

Brisbane Workers' Community Centre - Paddington
Rear Cnr Given Tce & 2 Latrobe Terrace Just in along Given Tce at the Lights
(Centre Entrance off Car Park just around Cnr in Given Tce - with Simpatico Bar Bistro on the Car Park Cnr)

Arrive from 6PM for chatting times and business networking Formal Candidate Statements begin 6.45PM 10 Minutes per Candidate Followed by question time to all Candidates

$5.00 .. Incls Nibble foods The Centre's bar will be open

Come along to hear from your local Mt Coot-tha State Electorate Candidates

Hon Andrew Fraser Australian Labor Party - Qld
Larissa Waters Queensland Greens
John Pollard LNP Party
James Sinnamon Independant

We hope you will join us .. invite your local neighbours and businesses

Important: in order to help the better provide for catering and seating please phone Lynne on 07 3036 6221 or James Sinnamon on 0412 319669 or e-mail enquiries [ AT ] innerwestchamber.com.au to advise if you are attending (but please come anyway).

 

" id="Sydney">Sydney

 

Cate Molloy corrects Noosa hospital

Media release: 7 March 2009

The Candidate for Independent Noosa today dismissed the critical comments made about her by Noosa Hospital community Spokesperson Mr Rusty Fraser (The (Sunshine Coast) Daily 7/3/09) and argued that his comments were not only misleading but also mischievous in themselves.

"With all due respect to Noosa Hospital Community Board Spokesman, Mr Rusty Fraser, my criticism of LNP Member, Glen Elmes still stands," said Cate Molloy.

"I may have been late to the hospital's meet and brief the candidates session due to unavoidable circumstances, but in no way does this invalidate my view of Mr Elmes' ineffectiveness as the Member for Noosa," she said.

"As a long term political figure in the Noosa community, I am well aware of the challenges facing the hospital and was presented with the Hospital's Annual Report (containing all the issues) on arrival, said Ms Molloy.

"What Mr Fraser neglected to inform the Daily, was that unlike Mr Elmes who left early, I attended the tour of the hospital which was far more important in my mind in understanding the issues. So in this respect, it is Mr Fraser who is being mischievous," said Cate Molloy.

"Might I also remind Mr Fraser, it has not been my responsibility in the last two and a half years to make representation and achieve Government funding for the Hospital. As Member for Noosa, it has been precisely Mr responsibility," Cate Molloy said

.

"And while Mr Elmes' may have made some representations to Government - what did he achieve? Absolutely nothing!" said Ms Molloy.

"If this isn't a sign of ineffectiveness and lacking the 'ticker' to play hard ball in negotiations to achieve for Noosa, I don't know what is," she claimed.

"Mr Elmes has been Noosa's most ineffectual MP in the last 20 years", said Cate Molloy.

Cate Molloy,
Candidate for Independent Noosa,
Peregian Beach,
Qld., 4573,
07 54483248
0408 729499
cate.molloy [ AT ] gmail.com

See also:

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