Earlier this week I announced my candidacy for the Byron Shire Greens team for the Local Government Election on September 14, 2024.
We have an amazing group of women led by Sarah Ndjaye who has served as Deputy Mayor for the past four years. Elia Hague is a 28 year-old water engineer working hard on water security and urban planning for a resilient future.
We also have two fabulous Bundjalung women on our team - Arakwal leader Delta Kay who runs the award-winning indigenous tourism operation Explore Byron Bay, and Michelle Lowe who teaches jarjums at Byron Bay Public School. Come weave with us!
Several months ago I went to their campaign launch and was so impressed that when they asked me to join them as 5th on the ticket I found it hard to refuse. I've been 5th before, on the Clover Moore Team ticket with current Sydny MP Alex Greenwich in 6th place. Christine Forster, Tony Abbott's sister took the seat on Council and I eventually made my way up to the Caldera and have been fully embraced. I want to give back. Even if three or four of us get in Byron will be loved back into its magical glory for sure.
Homes for All
There are so many pressing issues to tackle in the Shire. We currently have the highest rate of homelessness in NSW and we're determined to solve this massive problem. Housing for all is one of our policies. The current government has failed to fully fund Byron's homelessness service so I'm joining with Greens women at the Big Byron Sleep Out tonight to raise money for Fletcher Street Cottage.
If you feel like chipping in please do! You'll be joining the likes of Chris Helmsworth who is a big supporter of their services, and Justin Hemmes who has just donated $10,000.
The 2022 flood event vividly demonstrated that communities have to step in where governments fail. We house and hosed and gave hope to those devastated by the deluge. The authorities dithered. Even now people are waiting for their promised house buy-backs and the flood recovery money that is largely outstanding.
The unnatural disaster that struck us that fateful day in February (and then a month later) was climate induced. Humans are still addicted to coal and gas even though the poles are melting. How existential do you have to get to get it?
Byron Bay Surf Festival 2024
This morning at the 2024 Byron Bay Surf Festival I joined with some environmental heavyweights from many different organisations who share a passion for the ocean.
CEO of Surfers for Climate Josh Kirkman and his partner Paloma were there with their new bub, as was the Surfing Senator Peter Whish-Wilson and his wife Nataie. Gabby Niuwenhof and her dad Andy from Byron Bay Dive Centre came to raise awareness about the plight of Leopard Sharks. Byron has the world’s largest aggregation of beautiful, endangered leopard sharks but these top food chain predators are under threat from climate change and overfishing.
My neighbour and Greens Candidate for Richmond Mandy Nolan held a press conference about these sharks who currently have no legal protection in Australian waters. The Cape Byron Marine Park is one of the few places they can flourish and they’re a huge tourist drawcard for our region. The Greens eco-tourism plan is to protect them.
Co-founder of Take3fortheSea and OceanImpact.org Tim Silverwood was feeling the stoke of people coming together for solutions to our ocean's problems which are, after all, our own.
"We are all custodians of Country." - Auntie Millie Ingram
As Sydney Co-ordinator with Lock The Gate Alliance I hosted many events to protect our environment from coal and gas projects. Auntie Millie Ingram, NAIDOCs 2024 Elder of the Year, always came to acknowledge that we are all custodians, all of us who care about Country and Sea Lands - all of us eco-centric types, who have pledged to protect our planet.
You might’ve been out door-knocking with us or helping out on a market stall? Talking with people in our communities about the issues that matter and working to make life better for them is how we change the world. People are deeply concerned about the cost of living, the housing crisis, inappropriate development on flood plains, greed and the escalating climate situation. While hearing from people about these things I have discovered that there is a lot of support out there for The Greens.
There’s also a lot of resistance to our popularity. Advance Australia, the group behind the defeat of the Voice Referendum, are throwing $5 million at three key Greens seats including Richmond. They don't want The Greens to succeed. But we will overcome. Because we have a mighty force behind us. People have the power.
Together we will be a force of and for nature and our collective humanity.
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