Greens not up to task in jobs debate

THE Greens candidate for Townsville Rebecca Ryan was left floundering at an election debate yesterday when she could not answer how the minor party would boost local employment.

Ms Ryan said the question of jobs creation was a “tricky one” with the party not in a position to give residents what they wanted straight away.

“We’re not in a position to make promises we can’t keep,” Ms Ryan said. “The jobs are something that will be built up over time, renewables are part of the solution.”

The comments were made at the Townsville Chamber of Commerce’s election debate where 18 of the region’s 19 candidates were put in the hot seat.

Ms Ryan said the focus on jobs was disingenuous.

“We want to see better lifestyles for people,” she said. “You can’t suddenly make jobs.”

Candidates were asked questions about mining, energy, water and crime with The Greens candidate for Mundingburra Jenny Brown saying the party was not opposed to mining “as such”.

“We acknowledge that we need coking coal for steel production,” Ms Brown said. “The Adani mine is simply too risky. If it was viable it would have gotten finance by now.”

Pauline Hanson’s One Nation candidate for Thuringowa Mark Thornton blundered his way through a question about his party’s position on the DriveIt NQ push for a motorsport and driver training facility to be built at Calcium.

“I am guilty of not being at the last DriveIt meeting, so I’m not exactly sure what’s going on,” Mr Thornton said.

“Mal ( Charlwood, One Nation candidate for Thuringowa) might have an answer.”

Independent candidate for Thuringowa Stephen Lane told the forum water security was a local issue, not one for state and federal governments.

“It’s dealt with by the city council,” he said.

“It’s put forward by the city council. They charge everyone but when it comes to me being elected, I’ll be able to put pressure on the city council to put forward solutions to the water crisis that we have at the moment.”

Candidates for both Labor and the LNP expressed their anger surrounding the region’s crime wave while also spruiking their parties’ water security and energy policies.

Independent candidate for Mundingburra Geoff Virgo twice tried to turn questions back on to his fellow candidates, with payroll tax dominating a portion of the debate.

“How many of you actually pay payroll tax?” he said. “The idea I want is to eliminate it, and you can eliminate it.”

Mundingburra independent Dennis Easzon did not attend.