With the bulk of The Independent’s circulation within the federal seat of Brisbane, we asked all five candidates for the inner-city seat to provide a 300-word statement as their final pitch to electors before the big day. Brisbane became more marginal in the latest redistribution and will be closely watched on election night to gauge how the parties are faring.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Okay, you might be reading these online well after the event, but the comments below might be handy if there's another poll next week!
Arch Bevis
Australian Labor Party
Economic security is the key. Without a strong economy, good jobs and services can’t be provided. The Labor Government acted swiftly to tackle the global financial crisis. The stimulus packages helped keep Australia out of recession – the only advanced economy to do so. About 200,000 jobs were saved.
Now Labor is building a stronger economy. We have low government debt. In our $1.2 trillion economy, the debt is like a person who earns $50,000 per year owing just $8,250. Most people have home or car loans of much more than this.
The Budget will be back in surplus in three years – three years earlier than originally forecast. Interest rates are 2.25% lower than when Labor came to office. We have just recorded the largest trade surplus in the country’s history.
Nation-building infrastructure is vital to supporting the economy, improving productivity and providing jobs.
The Government is already rolling out the National Broadband Network which will transform the economy by providing super fast internet connection and download speeds. The roll-out begins in Brisbane in the second quarter of 2011 – less than a year away. Labor has committed to building the long-awaited railway from Redcliffe to Petrie.
Funds have already been provided for the feasibility study for the cross-river rail link and underground rail stations in the CBD. A re-elected Labor Government will continue to roll-out computers in schools and trades training centres in high schools – both programs Tony Abbott has announced he will cut.
We have supported an expansion of renewable energy in homes and industry, helping our environment and creating green jobs.
In the Brisbane electorate, 600 homes have had solar panels installed. Labor is making a record investment in health, including training more than 3,000 new nurses and 1,300 GPs over the next three years.
Andrew Bartlett
The Greens
I have nearly 11 years experience representing Queensland as a Senator in the federal Parliament with the Australian Democrats. I decided to get re-involved in politics with the Greens because I continue to believe that a two party political system is not delivering the policies, programs or government that our country needs and deserves.
My aims in this election are to make the case for urgent, effective action to address the threat of climate change, to demonstrate that the Greens provide a strong, credible and effective alternative to the Labor and Liberal-National parties across all policy issues, and to convince people of the importance of Queenslanders electing a Greens Senator to ensure our state has a voice on balance of power issues which can both replace and improve on what the Democrats previously provided in the Senate. Our political system can and should do better for the people it is meant to serve.
The economic benefits derived from the inner city are often greatly underestimated. The electorate of Brisbane is home to a huge amount of vital services and employment generating activity, as well as providing a cultural hub for the broader community. This pivotal contribution needs to be better recognised and supported, but we must also ensure that the liveability of Brisbane is not compromised.
I have lived all my life in inner Brisbane and know the local community well. I grew up and went to school in the electorate, and currently live at Windsor. I have been involved in a wide range of not-for-profit community groups.
I will continue my advocacy for greater action to tackle the housing affordability crisis, to invest more in public transport, to make the inner-city more bicycle and pedestrian friendly and to better support economic activity and jobs which assist in making the necessary transition to a low carbon economy.
Ewan Saunders
Socialist Alliance
Politics today in Australia is marked by growing disillusionment with the politicians who were elected on the slogan of 'change,' but have delivered no real change. Socialist Alliance is a party of activists, committed to building movements capable of bringing about real change, that puts the people and environment before profits. Our policies are based on offering a real alternative to the major parties, which represent the interests of big business.
On the looming threat of Climate Change, our policy is for immediate and large-scale investment for 100% renewable energy by 2020; fund by taxing the corporate polluters and billionaires.
On Indigenous rights, we call for repeal of the Northern Territory Intervention laws; abolish racist welfare quarantining; no uranium waste dumps; close the gap in Aboriginal health, education and housing by 2020; repay stolen wages; real measures to end Aboriginal deaths in custody.
Support rights of asylum seekers. End mandatory detention; end deportations; no 'offshore processing' of refugees.
Defend workers' rights: abolish the repressive, Howard-era Australian Building and Construction Commission, and scrap all anti-union laws.
Antiwar: Bring back all troops from Iraq and Afghanistan; freedom for Palestine -- end the inhumane Israeli blockade of Gaza.
Women's and gay rights: pay equity now; remove abortion from the criminal code; equal marriage rights for same sex couples.
Public transport: Boost investment in suburban and high-speed intercity rail. Make public transport free and frequent.
Housing: Tackle homelessness and the 200,000 housing shortfall with a large-scale social and community housing program, Cap rent and mortgage payments at 20% of income.
Health: Boost funding for preventative care; free dental care; end subsidies to private insurers; expand community-based health care networks; boost funding on mental heath.
Mark White
Family First
We have an aging population so we need to find ways to care for and share their wisdom by involving older Australian?s in the practical education of our young people thus helping young people care for our older citizens.
I support retired people spending four hours a week working with and mentoring young people and assisting businesses. This would provide $100 tax free to retirees on top of their pensions. This is a win / win for business, young and retired people who all can benefit.
Brisbane is a wonderful place to live and to raise a family however city people rarely understand the tremendous lifestyle that is available living away from the city.
We need to identify opportunities to assist regional Australia?s growth. Let's start by moving more Government departments to Regional Australia thus providing needed employment opportunities to help families stay closer together.
Let’s look towards the future and see what industries can be moved North or West.
Let’s look at better funding distribution to allow for the required infrastructure in these growing communities, hospitals, schools and community services etc. If elected I will be seeking Federal funds to assist in building a city underground train loop taking in the top end of Queen St, QUT/Parliament, Woolloongabba, New Farm, Newstead and Fortitude Valley looping back to Roma St via the Exhibition rail corridor, instead of just the proposed cross city railway line.
This will allow Ipswich and Cleveland rail lines access to the tunnel as well the Beenleigh and Northern lines.
The London Tube first section opened in 1863, almost 150 years ago and even though I have never been to Great Britain most people are aware of this important transportation network. We need people with vision in Canberra and I offer myself as a genuine alternative.
Teresa Gambaro
Liberal/National Party
I believe that we are experiencing growing pains due to the fact that services and infrastructure have failed to cope with population growth.
The coalition believes Australians are looking for sustained investment in infrastructure and services to meet existing demands and to support increases in population. We believe in setting guard rails for population growth by tasking the Productivity & Sustainability Commission to advise on population growth bands and soundly considered sustainable targets.
The Intergenerational Report predicts that Australia’s population will have a two thirds increase to 36 million people by 2050. The Coalition will reduce Australia’s annual rate of population growth from 2% under Labor to 1.4% in our first term by reducing net migration from 298,924 in 2008/09 to no more than 170,000 per year by the end of our 1st term.
The coalition will ensure 2/3 of our permanent migration programme will be for the purpose of skilled migration. Growing population will increase demands for infrastructure such as roads, hospitals, water and electricity. Managing population growth will enable our infrastructure services and environment to catch up. We have the leadership to reduce the current level of immigration intake.
We will support a high speed broadband investment of $6.3 billion dollars.
We will provide an increase of 2800 new hospital beds and a $150 million dollar fund for nurses’ training and development.
We’ll spend $90.7 million over 4 years to operate community controlled hospital boards. We will commit to a free computer based Internet filter, not the expensive ISP based filter that will not work.
I will commit $375,000.00 and our Green Army for renovation and rejuvenation of sections of Ithaca, Breakfast and Enoggera Creeks. We will plant more trees in our area and support an emissions reduction scheme that will reduce emissions by 5% by 2020.
