Candidate Profiles
North Coast news daily:
Matthew Hartley, independent
Jeff Johnson, independent
Kris Beavis, Nationals
Tamara Smith, Greens
After growing up running and riding in the bush, playing in the waves, and learning in libraries, I studied at the University of Sydney. I’ve spent a year in hospital, a few years traveling, nine years on a disability pension, 10 years in public housing, 20 years playing music (enthusiastically, if not very well), and 27 years in medical, psychological, and therapeutic research. Currently, I help develop low-cost therapeutic technology. I have campaigned for the Greens, and attempted to help the Labor Party grow up. I like animals, especially dogs, horses, birds, and lizards, and have plenty of the last two at my house. I dislike hypocrisy, corruption, cruelty, and the abuse of the community. I perceive no separation between humanity and environment, whether natural or social. On every issue, whether social, economic, or ecological, the public is always ahead of the major political parties. So, we need direct democratic involvement. Then you’ll see climate change solved, renewable energy replacing coal, medical breakthroughs, over-development stopped, rail rebuilt, and all the rest. It’s not hard, when you get past entrenched business interests. An informed, empowered public can decide our future. We already know what most of us want. Stable population, environmental protection, manufacturing, technology, and the education systems to release our potential. These things aren’t mysteries. But unless we break the political gangs, and end corruption, we will be trapped in more of the same. As many people know, I champion the responsibility of an elected representative to listen to the local community. That is a promise I guarantee I can deliver. As an independent, co-operating with other independents to counter the gang politicians, I can be effective (like Nick Xenophon) about the local communities’ rights, views, and dignity. Every issue depends on one thing: that we the people be heard. Vote independent.
I grew up working in small business so I know what’s involved and how much hard work is required for local businesses to succeed. I have a young family and currently work as an energy efficiency and solar consultant. I am also involved with a number of community organisations and campaigns, and volunteer as a surf life saver at Lennox. I have a Bachelor of Business Administration from Southern Cross University and have completed postgraduate units within the Faculty of Law. It’s time to break the political party stranglehold over our democracy. Political parties are increasingly promising the world and failing to deliver. As a local independent I won’t be dictated to by the party factions, corporations or developers in Sydney who simply want to exploit our region for short-term profits. I was elected to Ballina Council in 2008 and have been actively engaged with our community for over a decade. I believe in ecologically sustainable development, resilient communities and socially responsible government. The Ballina electorate deserves a strong independent voice that has a proven track record. The current threat to industrialise our rural landscape with CSG development is a classic example of how consecutive governments have sold us out. Furthermore, both Ballina and Byron have seen vast areas of rural land rezoned by the state government against the community’s wishes. We need ESD design principles to guide our transition to being a resilient, caring and prosperous region. The future is in renewables, value-added agricultural production, sustainable tourism, innovation and a strong small business sector. Having the northern rivers declared gasfield free would be a game changer. Our region could then focus on working towards and investing in a renewable-energy future and improving eco-tourism options for locals and visitors alike. www.jeffjohnson.com.au
Throughout my life, I have devoted myself to community service and I believe that becoming a member of parliament is the best way I can continue to serve my community. I grew up on a banana farm near Coffs Harbour and after school I started working for the Westpac Bank at branches around regional NSW. Following a period as business manager at an independent school in Ballina, I was appointed CEO of our local Community Rescue Helicopter Service, until I put my hand up in Ballina. I have been associated with lifes aving since nippers and still patrol. I was the president of the Ballina Lighthouse and Lismore Surf Life Saving Club 2008–2014, where I’m still a patrolling member. Just because we live 800km from Sydney doesn’t mean we should have second-class infrastructure and services. Areas like the north coast were ignored for over a decade under the last Labor government. Over the last four years the Nationals have fought and delivered infrastructure for our region but more needs to be done. This means supporting local industries like tourism, construction and farming. I’m not afraid to say I don’t want CSG. And I’m going to take that community message to Parliament to ensure that happens. It’s hot air at election time. Our area is not this beautiful by accident; we’ve done a good job protecting it. The Nationals have always fought for the regions – it’s in our blood. We’ve wound back the licences that were thrown around before like confetti. I want to continue to protect our area from things that diminish our natural capital. My first campaign if elected will be to ensure all the road, rail and water upgrades for Ballina are locked in and confirmed in the next budget. These projects spur on our economy, creating jobs and flow-on benefits to other businesses. It’s also important that these projects are done sustainably and on our terms. www.krisbeavis.com.au
My family have lived in the northern rivers for four generations. I’m a solicitor with a background in energy law, social justice and human rights issues. I’m also a high school teacher in Ballina with professional experience working in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission and was a regional delegate in the campaign against Howard’s Work Choices legislation. I’ve worked in Ballina for 11 years and I was nominated as the 2007 Ballina Quota community woman of the year for community service. I’ve been active in a number of national environmental campaigns, including Roxby Downs, Chaelundi Forests and the campaign to stop sand mining on Fraser Island. I was active in local campaigns to stop sewage outfall into Byron Bay, protect the region’s koalas and was part of the No Club Med in Byron Bay campaign. I’m a passionate ocean swimmer who swims across Byron Bay most days. I’m a member of Lock the Gate Alliance and was part of the legal team supporting the protectors working to stop invasive gas mining at Bentley. The Greens are the only party who will unconditionally ban coal seam gas and other forms of unconventional gas mining right across NSW because we know the devastating impact this dirty industry will have on our fertile farmlands, water supply and economy. The Greens believe that Australia must rapidly transition to clean, renewable energy now. The Greens were the only party to initiate a parliamentary inquiry into coal seam gas and we support the right of landowners to say no to exploration licences. We have worked with communities fighting coal seam gas right around the state. If elected on March 28, the first bill I will introduce to parliament will be to cancel the existing gas exploration licences over the northern rivers and permanently ban unconventional gas mining across NSW. www.tamarasmith.com.au
18 March 25, 2015 The Byron Shire Echo
Vyvyan Stott, Christian Democratic Party
I have trained as a social worker and journalist, have lived locally for 35 years and have been on a multitude of committees. This election is crucial to preserve our beautiful district. Local issues include affordable housing, unemployment, drug addiction, drunkenness in the Bay, the need for Ballina dredging, danger of coastal koala extinction, bad health effects of microwave mobile phone towers, threats by wealthy developers. I ask that people voting number 1 for mepass on the full strength of the vote by passing on preferences to other candidates you favour. We urgently need a change. According to the CDP website www.christiandemocraticparty.com.au, The Christian Democratic Party is unique in Australian politics. ‘We are the only Christian values party sitting within an Australian parliament. This gives the voter a unique representative in politics, because we represent you. ‘As our principles are based upon Christian values, our policies will always be consistent with your values and needs. Especially in this political climate, it is refreshing for a values-based political party to be thriving.’ Its policies include opposing same-sex marraiage, tightening laws for drug dealing, and protecting workers’ rights to Christian public holidays, including Christmas and Easter.
Editor’s note Candidates are listed from left to right in the order they appear on the ballot paper, apart from Mr Zylber. We have listed the candidates for the Ballina electorate only. For a full rundown on other local electorates and the latest election news, visit our website www.echo.net.au/ election-2015. For more details about voting, polling booths and so on, see the official site www.vote.nsw.gov.au.
netdaily.net.au Paul Spooner, Labor
In my role as the general manager of Byron Community Centre I have worked with those most vulnerable in our community. I want to be your representative in state parliament so I can be an effective voice for our community. For too long we have sent representatives to Sydney who have not been able to improve services in our community. I was preselected by over 2,000 local residents in the 2014 Ballina Labor community preselection and have had an open discussion with the entire Ballina electorate about what issues and concerns are important to them. As a local councillor, I have the experience to know what it takes to represent people in government and get things done. Schools and hospitals across our electorate are the most vital services for the local community. Labor has committed $7.3 million for upgrading Ballina District Hospital’s operating theatres and emergency department. We also committed to ensuring the Byron Central Hospital will be built and it will be a public hospital with public surgical services. The Nationals want to privatise health services in Byron Bay. Only Labor will provide a fully public hospital. I will also fight for demountables to be replaced at Byron Bay Public School and schools across the electorate because our children should be educated in first-class facilities, not 10+ year-old demountables. Labor will not sell the state’s electricity network, which last year earnt $1.7 billion for the state government – money that funds teachers, nurses, doctors and police. Labor will have a permanent ban on CSG mining on the north coast. Labor, if elected, will reverse the approval given by planning minister Pru Goward for the controversial West Byron development and hand any future approval process to Byron Shire Council. www.nswlabor.org.au/ paul_spooner
Byron Shire Echo archives: www.echo.net.au/byron-echo