Prepare for a bellwether blitz
The Cairns Post has passed the microphone to every candidate for Leichhardt for them to say why they deserve your vote ahead of the federal election
LEICHHARDT is shaping up for a bellwether blitz as 11 candidates face off in the upcoming federal election. The Cairns Post has put five questions to each candidate, with the exception of Paul Roe from the Australian Federation Party who did not respond.
Early voting centres open on May 9 ahead of the May 21 election day – so time is limited for political hopefuls to get their message out.
SUSANNE BAYLY, ANIMAL JUSTICE PARTY What suburb do you live in?
I am currently living in Atherton, I spend most of my time working as an active member within the Leichhardt community.
Why are you running?
The Animal Justice Party and I can imagine a world where animals and people live in harmony with our planet. A world where we ensure the health of ourselves, our children, our planet, and animals. In order to make it happen we need political representation that stands up for animals, people and the places we love.
Sum up your life experience, work experience in two sentences?
I am an active animal rights and environmental advocate, regularly attending protests and rallies, participating in volunteer events, and educating the community at large in Leichhardt. We don’t need more “successful” people in government, we need people with good core values.
What, in your opinion, is the number one issue facing voters in Leichhardt?
The undiscussed obstacles to climate action that voters in Leichhardt are facing currently are: overcoming historical and systemic privilege, disadvantage and inequality, or struggling with the rising costs of living, especially due to the pandemic.
If elected, what will be your priority when you enter the new parliament?
To stand up against all causes of climate change, fossil fuels, and coal – and deforestation and animal agriculture, the lesser known major contributors. To stop expansion, funding and subsidising of destructive and environmentally harmful industries so that we can invest our nation’s wealth into transforming to sustainable food systems, clean energy solutions, and protect, restore and re-wild our natural habitat.
GEENA COURT, 51, ONE NATION What suburb do you live in? Whitfield
Why are you running?
For quite some time now we have sat idle and allowed politicians to insert themselves into our lives instead of doing the jobs we elected them to do. I am to be a voice for the people not a party person that has to toe the line at all costs.
Sum up your life experience, work experience in two sentences?
As a young child I was on a farm and at 15 I started a career in real estate spanning 36 years, owning my own business for the past 22 years. I have also been in the construction industry and the tourism industry although I lost my business, Short Term Accommodation, due to Covid after 11 years.
What, in your opinion, is the number one issue facing voters in Leichhardt?
Equally as important as each other is stopping the mandates so people can go back to work, the Kuranda Range upgrade and our water security.
If elected, what will be your priority when you enter the new parliament?
My priority will always be a voice for the north. I’m a firm believer in simply getting the job done, listening to the constituents, acting in the best interests of the people I represent and working for better outcomes for our entire electorate and those who call our great electorate home.
ADAM CROPP, 38, FUSION PARTY What suburb do you live in?
Woree Why are you running? I am worried about Australia’s current trajectory toward a dystopian future and the criminal level of censorship present today both in our government and media.
I am a passionate science communicator and I believe I would be the best candidate to replace Warren Entsch as the ambassador for the Great Barrier Reef.
Sum up your life experience, work experience in two sentences?
I grew up in Port Douglas surrounded by the things I love most: the myriad marine creatures inhabiting the Great Barrier Reef and the tranquil tropical rainforests of the Daintree National Park. I have worked on the Great Barrier Reef for most of my life but also as an expedition leader for National Geographic from the remote jungles of PNG to the frosty frontiers of Antarctica and everywhere in between.
What, in your opinion, is the number one issue facing voters in Leichhardt?
Both government transparency and the rising cost of living in FNQ.
5. If elected, what will be your priority when you enter the new parliament?
My priority if elected would be to keep the bastards honest via complete government transparency and an ICAC with teeth!
I would also reduce our cost of living by funding the FNQ Food Collective to reduce prices and increase the quality of our food while also building domestic petroleum refineries to get petrol back below $1 per litre. We also have some of the slowest internet speeds in the world, so I would immediately connect FNQ to the rest of the world with high-speed internet to finally bring FNQ into the 21st century.
WARREN ENTSCH, 71, LIBERAL NATIONAL PARTY
What suburb do you live in?
Yorkeys Knob Why are you running?
I am contesting this election because the community needs leadership, experience and stability as we start to rebuild following the global pandemic.
Sum up your life experience, work experience in two sentences?
I have had a diverse career including being a toilet cleaner, RAAF aircraft engine fitter, crocodile farmer, grazier and the long-serving Member for Leichhardt.
What, in your opinion, is the number one issue facing voters in Leichhardt?
The number one issue currently in Leichhardt is cost of living and the effects it is having on families.
If elected, what will be your priority when you enter the new parliament?
Deliver on my local plan and ensure policies such as the $10bn reinsurance pool delivers its intended outcomes to drive down insurance prices.
ELIDA FAITH, 51, LABOR What suburb do you live in?
Redlynch Why are you running? I’m running because I have seen the struggle Far North Queenslanders are facing due to the failures of the LNP government. For too long they have been neglected by the Morrison government so I want to be a voice for them, and an advocate for our community in Canberra.
Sum up your life experience, work experience in two sentences?
I know what it is like to struggle; as a single mum I had to fight to put food on the table. And after working in community services for 13 years, I know first-hand the daily challenges faced by our communities. That’s why I put my hand up to run for the seat of Leichhardt; I want to be part of an Albanese Labor government that won’t go missing in action when needed.
4. What, in your opinion, is the number one issue facing voters in Leichhardt?
Skyrocketing cost of living is the number one issue – everything is going up except wages. The Morrison government’s failure to act means Far North Queenslanders are falling further and further behind. Only an Albanese Labor Government will deliver a plan for a better future by easing cost of living pressures.
5. If elected, what will be your priority when you enter the new parliament?
My priority will always be working with our community to deliver Labor’s plan for a future that will ensure generations of Far North Queenslanders can get ahead and prosper.
DAN HANNAGAN, 42, UNITED AUSTRALIA PARTY
What suburb do you live in?
Kamerunga
Why are you running?
I am running because our political system is full of long-term public servants, career politicians and bureaucrats who are out of touch with the people who they are meant to represent. I was compelled to run because I could no longer complain about a system I was not willing to do anything about myself. I am so proud to run for Leichhardt because I truly love and care about our region and its people.
Sum up your life experience, work experience in two sentences?
I was born and raised in Cairns, my family has been in the region since the 1800s. After school I studied in Brisbane, then spent until my late 20s travelling and working around world and from then into my 30s until present day establishing my businesses and family.
What, in your opinion, is the number one issue facing voters in Leichhardt?
While not technically a “federal matter,’ the most common anecdotal concern I hear throughout electorate is youth crime. However, the truly pressing issue facing voters is what is widely referred to as “the elephant in the room,” our nation’s collective trillion-dollar debt – the number one issue facing every single Australian.
If elected, what will be your priority when you enter the new parliament?
My priority would be to protect, restore and rebuild the economy to safeguard the future of our nation. Our best chance of creating a sustainable future for our nation, and the world, is through economic prosperity. We can do this here by processing our minerals in Australia, paying down debt and investing in education, Australian products and Australian services.
ROD JENSEN, 43, KATTER’S AUSTRALIAN PARTY
What suburb do you live in? Bentley Park Why are you running? After working within the public sphere and finding more barriers than solutions, I thought I would try removing some of those by putting myself forward for public office.
Sum up your life experience, work experience in two sentences?
Work hardest when no one is watching. Be grateful to everyone, and leave things better than you found it.
What, in your opinion, is the number one issue facing voters in Leichhardt?
No matter which cross-section of community you come from, the single biggest issue for people is affordable living, linked with future opportunity.
If elected, what will be your priority when you enter the new parliament?
I think what I can offer most to the people of Leichhardt, apart from work ethic and integrity in parliament, is a resounding voice. It will be strong, real and it will be unapologetic.
SILVIA MOGOROVICH, 42, INFORMED MEDICAL OPTIONS PARTY
What suburb do you live in? Mooroobool Why are you running? I am running in this important election to ensure freedom of choice and economic stability for the community. My aim is to return truth, transparency and accountability to politics.
Sum up your life experience, work experience in two sentences?
I’ve worked in a number of different roles through my life, as well as travelled extensively, which has given me a broad understanding of what we need here in Leichhardt. I have lived a life with the freedom to pursue my dreams, and I want that for future generations.
What, in your opinion, is the number one issue facing voters in Leichhardt?
The number one issue facing voters is the lack of financial security – this is evidenced through the high rate of underemployment, the increasing cost of living, rent, and house prices. I understand how important it is to get people back to work, back to school and also have the time and money to enjoy our region.
If elected, what will be your priority when you enter the new parliament?
My priority will be to end all mask and vaccine mandates, and bring back true transparency to the scientific decision making process regarding health directives, and support a Royal Commission into the Pandemic Response.
PHILLIP MUSUMECI, 65, GREENS
What suburb do you live in? Cairns Why are you running? In a wealthy country like ours, everyone should have access to free education, a liveable wage and a secure future. But to achieve that, we need to make billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share of tax and stamp out corruption in government – which only the Greens will.
3. Sum up your life experience, work experience in two sentences?
I’m a fourth-generation local, systems engineer and contract lecturer in computer science and engineering. I was born in Babinda, grew up on a family farm, co-founded a technology company exporting printers from Melbourne, field tested cane harvester and sugar mill R&D in Tully and Ingham, provided student care at John Flynn Townsville and JCU Cairns, and now work on precision GPS for products like the six robotic cranes at the Port of Auckland.
What, in your opinion, is the number one issue facing voters in Leichhardt?
So long as the major parties continue accepting donations from fossil fuel companies, they’ll continue supporting new coal and gas. This puts our reef and tourism at risk and squanders opportunities in green energy exports and clean smelting that can underpin a manufacturing revival for Australians.
If elected, what will be your priority when you enter the new parliament?
In the balance of power, the Greens will reintroduce our anti-corruption Bill and push the next government to create thousands of new jobs tackling the climate crisis, with a planned transition away from coal and gas by 2030 that leaves no one behind. That means free retraining, a job-for-job guarantee and wage subsidies for FIFO coal workers and communities, including in the far north.
PAT O’SHANE, 80, SOCIALIST ALLIANCE
What suburb do you live in? Holloways Beach
Why are you running?
I am running to fight for a community where everyone belongs and decisions are made for the public good before private profit.
Sum up your life experience, work experience in two sentences?
I am Kuku Yalanji from the Mossman area, where I grew up dirt poor and fought to get a good education, as my parents instilled in me that my role was to make the world a better place. I became a teacher, Australia’s first woman to head a government department, and Australia’s first Indigenous barrister and magistrate.
What, in your opinion, is the number one issue facing voters in Leichhardt?
The number one issues are the climate crisis and the housing crisis.
If elected, what will be your priority when you enter the new parliament?
My priorities are climate action, housing for all, free healthcare, free education, liveable incomes and genuine democracy.