NSW VOTES

to exactly the same benefits; and reducing the cost of housing and rentals by increasing supply and reducing unnecessary, costly regulation.

And addressing the causes of domestic violence.

“We need to have these debates and I believe the debate is being stifled,” Andrew Loughrey, Ballina Independent candidate told The Northern Rivers Times.

Also running in Ballina, Peter JENKINS, Sustainable Australia Party – Stop Overdevelopment / Corruption.

All Clarence Candidates Back Ban On Mining

By TIM HOWARD

There is at least one thing all eight candidates for the seat of Clarence in Saturday’s NSW Election publicly agree on: there should be no mining in the electorate.

On Friday six of the eight candidates Mark Rayner (Legalise Cannabis Party), Dr Greg Clancy (NSW Greens), Debrah Novak (Independent), Leon Ankersmit (ALP), Brett Duroux (IndigenousAboriginal Party of Australia), and Nicki Lev (Independent) attended a media conference in Yamba called by the Clarence Catchment Alliance to give them the chance to sign a pledge that they opposed mining in the Clarence.

Richie Williamson (Nationals) and George Keller (Sustainable

Australia Party) were unable to attend, but both are on the record opposing the practice.

The Clarence Catchment Alliance, a group founded in 2018 to protect river health in the Clarence Valley, has campaigned extensively against mining in the Clarence Valley. It collected more than 13,000 signatures on a petition calling for a ban on mining which was presented to the NSW Parliament CCA coordinator Shae Fleming said the motivation for Friday’s media conference was to make the candidates aware of the depth of community opposition to mining in the Clarence Catchment.

“Mining is a State legislated issue, but local support is essential to demonstrate the lack of social licence granted here, and federal support adds weight to our community call for action,” she said.

Ms Fleming acknowledged that all candidates, including the Nationals Richie Williamson, who did not attend were on the record opposing mining in the Clarence catchment.

But she said to make the pledge more meaningful in an election environment, candidates could only sign if their party was also opposed to mining.

Of the six attendees only Labor’s Leon Ankersmit could not sign the pledge, although he said this was only on party lines.

“At this time NSW Labor does not support this stance,” he said. “But I want to be honest with the people of the Clarence and say that if I am elected I will do everything in my power to get a Labor Government on board to oppose mining in the Clarence.”

He said he had spoken to local fishers who were scared of what might happen to their industries if mining waste polluted the Clarence catchment.

“They implored me to do something to look after the water in the Clarence,” he said.

Greens candidate Dr Greg Clancy, said the river had already been impacted by mining, but it was essential to make sure a ban was in place to keep it from getting worse.

“Stuart Rowland – the Codfather – did a study of the river near the Cangai Mine that showed the river around there was just about dead,” Dr Clancy said.

“As a foundation member of the CCA I have the greatest respect for the work current members of the group are doing to protect the river and its catchment.”

Independent candidate Debrah Novak has also been a strong opponent of mining in the Clarence and would like an incoming government to go a step further to halt mining.

“If I am elected I will be lobbying the new government to buy back mining leases to ensure there is no more mining or exploration for mines in the Clarence,” she said.

“That’s what happened with the coal seam gas protests a decade or so ago and it was effective in keeping the Clarence gas free.”

Ms Novak said food production and tourism industries linked to the Clarence River, were by far the biggest employers in the valley.

She said mining pollution was a threat not only to the river health, but to the livelihoods of a large percentage of the community and the local economy.

Independent Nicki Levi said the Clarence River was precious to her and a matter of family pride as well.

“My son is a science teacher and he said if was to win I would need to raise awareness of how vital is for us to have clean water,” she said.

Legalise Cannabis candidate Mark Rayner pointed out that large scale cannabis growing could be a great “bioremediator” for the river. “Cannabis is second to none as a plant that can be used to clean up waterways,” he said.

Indigenous-Aboriginal Party of Australia candidate, Brett Duroux, said it was important for people to remember water was more important to people and life than minerals.

He said profits from mining often went to overseas shareholders while local people were left to clean up the mess left by their mining operations.

The CCA’s parent body, the Clarence Environment centre, was represented by one of its founders, John Edwards.

“While mining is essential to Australia’s ongoing prosperity, we believe that any attempt to undertake it safely in the rugged mountainous Clarence Valley hinterland, with its high annual rainfall, would be fraught with danger, and any mining accident which, unfortunately, happens all too frequently, could prove to be disastrous to the valley,” he said.

“Having leaders acknowledge this formally will be a good step towards protecting the catchment.”

As well as local candidates the state of the Clarence catchment attracted other candidates from Lismore to the North, who signed the pledge.

My name is Leon Ankersmit. I live in Maclean with my wife and three school-aged children. We have lived in the Clarence for the past 15 years. I am an executive manager in the field of community services, most recently as CEO of Anglicare North Coast.

It is very important for voters to know what a candidate offers to the electorate in terms of their credentials to be a good representative. The role of MP is not a ceremonial role and a local member should not simply be there to make up the numbers on the floor of Parliament.

Clarence has a rich history of prosperity, commerce and influence beyond our electoral boundaries, and it has challenges that must be faced with wisdom and vigour in order for that prosperity to continue to be enjoyed by all our residents.

That is why we need a representative who has skills and energy, a vision for the district and the right motivations and affiliations to deliver for the next term of government. My ability to work collaboratively and to forge partnership in any setting even in situations of conflicting interests is the most powerful skill I bring to the role.

During the campaign I have applied the same principles that I will bring to the role if I am elected. Those principles are: hard work and a laser focus on the issues that affect our electorate; using my role as a facilitator of collaboration to achieve outcomes and bring together the tiers of government, industry and investors to remove the roadblocks to building our wellbeing and prosperity.

Clarence will be in safe hands with me as your member. The most important principle I bring to this role is that of listening to the electorate. As your representative I will be armed with knowledge from our electorate to fight for the needs of our communities.

By SAMANTHA ELLEY

Labor has come into the state government campaign boxing ring swinging, with a $30 million promise to deliver long-term affordable rental housing in the Northern Rivers region.

Backed by a visit from Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Rose Jackson, MLC, Labor incumbent Janelle Saffin announced the Buildto-Rent campaign in Lismore last week.

“When NSW Labor in February announced a Build-to-Rent pilot