[Bermagui Community] ***SPAM*** Bermagui Community Forum - Federal Election Candidate Statements

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Federal Election - Eden Monaro Candidate Statements
In this issue

. Candidate Forum Reminder (#Reminder)
. Introduction to Candidate Statements (#Introduction)
. James Holgate, Sustainable  Australia (#Holgate)
. Max Holmes, Liberal Democrats (#Holmes)
. Kristy McBain, ALP (#McBain)
. Greg Butler, Australian Democrats (#Butler)
. Darren Garnon, UAP (#Gannon)
. Jerry Nockles, Liberal (#Nockles)
. Vivian Harris, Greens (#Harris)
. Toni McLennan, Informed Medical Options n (#McLennan)
. Andrew Thaler, Independent (#Thaler)
. Boyd Shannon, Pauline Hanson One Nation (#Shannon)
Management Committee

Coordinator:                       Geoff Steel (mailto:geoffsteel1 at bigpond.com)
Deputy Coordinator:      Narelle Myers
Fergus McWhirter
David Monro
Bill Southwood

7 candidates have indicated that they will be attending on Sunday.

28 April 2022

The Bermagui Community Forum offered to provide our local community with a statement from each Eden Monaro candidate prior to the Federal election to be held on Saturday 21 May. We asked that the candidate statement should be no more than 300 words and cover their background, the locality they live in and their vision for our electorate.

Responses were received from Greg Butler (Democrats), Darren Garnon (United Australia Party), Vivian Harris (The Greens), Kristy McBain (Labor) and Toni McLennan (Informed Medical Options)

Unfortunately no statements were received from Maxwell Holmes (Liberal Democrats), James Holgate (Sustainable Australia Party), Jerry Nockles (liberal Party). Boyd Shannon (Pauline Hanson One Nation Party) or Andrew Thaler (Independent).

Candidate statements that we received are provided below in Ballot Paper order for your information. Where information was not received directly from the candidate, we have included information from the ABC website (where available)

Voting day is Saturday 21 May from 8am to 6pm. There will be no early voting in Bermagui. The closest early voting place at this stage is Bega.

James Holgate lives in Queanbeyan and was born and raised in Cooma. After many years living and working in Australia and overseas as a public servant and diplomat, he moved to Queanbeyan in 2011. Holgate was an Independent candidate for Eden-Monaro at the 2019 Federal election and again at the July 2020 by-election, polling under 2% at both elections. He polled 4.1% at the Monaro state by-election in February.

Source: ABC

No information available.

Kristy McBain grew up on the NSW Far South Coast and is the first woman to represent Eden-Monaro, winning a by-election in July 2020.

Kristy has a reputation as a plain spoken, hard-working local member who works with all levels of Government and all sides of politics to get results.

Eden-Monaro is on Ngambri, Ngunnawal, Wiradyuri, Ngarigo and Yuin Country. It stretches from the Sapphire Coast and Bega Valley in the south, to the fast-growing Queanbeyan and Yass regions in the north, and takes in the Snowy Mountains, Snowy Valleys and Monaro plains.

In recent years many of these communities have battled devastating bushfires, floods, and drought. As Mayor of the Bega Shire Council at the time, Kristy advocated day and night for people through the darkest days of the Black Summer bushfires in 2019-20. Kristy continues to bring that same courage and determination to the recovery of those regions.

Kristy and her husband Brad met at Eden Marine High School, and they have three children - Ruby, Max and Jack. They have built a successful plumbing business, so Kristy understands the pressures small businesses experience, and how important they are as local employers.
Kristy studied law at the University of Canberra and was the first person in her family to go to university. Kristy believes everyone should have the opportunity to complete further studies whether that be through university or TAFE. She is passionate about ensuring that regional Australians can build their careers and lives in the regions, as she has done.

Kristy believes in quality healthcare, education, growing the economy, better access to more affordable childcare, protecting the environment, improved connectivity, and disaster preparedness – just to name a few.

Kristy has travelled more than 90,000 kilometres in the short time since she was elected, listening to communities about their needs for a brighter future, and she looks forward to engaging further with the Bermagui community.

Greg Butler will be the Australian Democrats candidate for Eden Monaro.

Greg has been a resident of Murrumbateman since 2000. His mother’s family are the Annetts from the Adelong area. Greg was born in Western Australia, and his family settled in Bega in the mid 1950’s. His father worked as a Health Inspector with Mumbulla Shire Council. His sister was born at Bega Hospital. He commenced his education at what was then the Bega Infants School, completing four years before his family moved to Wollongong. He has since been a frequent visitor to the Sapphire Coast, and has a sister-in-law and nephew at Bega, and a cousin at Cobargo.

Greg is a Professional Engineer with a long career in rail construction and management throughout Australia. He has travelled by train to Cooma and Bombala before those lines were suspended, and he has also travelled by rail to Tumbarumba. Greg’s most recent rail work was as an ACT Public Servant supervising the construction of Canberra Light Rail Stage One.

Greg has an extensive record of community involvement and volunteer work, representing his community twice as a Shire Councillor. He was a Foundation Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a Federal Divisional President of Professionals Australia. He is a silver licence motorsport official, and has several old Daimlers awaiting restoration.

Greg is a foundation member of the Australian Democrats, and has long campaigned to bring the Democrats principles of honesty, tolerance and compassion to the forefront of Australian politics. This will be his 21st election campaign as a candidate.

“Despite over 70 years of Liberal or Labor controlled federal Parliaments, we still have 3 million Australians living in poverty. Not good enough! A vote for either is simply wasted, little will change. So, vote Australian Democrats instead!”

Happily married with two children and seven grandchildren, Darren is a family man and active member of his community.

Over the years, Darren has coached young men’s soccer teams and volunteered as a life saver, while also being involved in club administration at various capacities.

Darren was instrumental as a mentor with the Men Mentoring Men (MMM) program and in its forming as an independent corporation, now known as Menslink. Darren volunteers to the local motorsport club for race meets in which he is the race lap counter. Darren is the principal and CEO of an industrial lubrication manufacturing business he founded in 1997. The business started from modest beginnings to now employing local residents in two locations.
Darren’s role within the business is primarily now focused on formulation, technical support, training staff and providing team direction for continued long term stability.

Darren’s grounding in business has provided him with the experience and opportunity to be able to commit to his beliefs in a fair go for all Australians. He understands hard work, dedication and commitment are required to achieve a goal.

Darren has maintained a balanced yet sceptical view of the Australian political landscape for many years.

“I believe all Australians are shareholders in the common wealth of our country and its time there is a return to our fundamental principles of Australia putting Australians first. Australian politics must be about our values and our sovereignty as a nation. The outcomes must benefit all Australians, not just a few. Everyone must be able to live a free life where individual freedoms are protected. We need a viable alternative rather than the two-party system. I believe the UAP is a serious alternative to the major parties. I whole-heartedly believe the Australian people deserve better."

Dr Jerry Nockles is a Pharmacy Guild of Australia executive. He previously served in the Navy for 24 years, including service in the Persian Gulf War. He has also held senior roles with international non-government organisations such as World Vision Australia and UNICEF Australia.

Source: ABC

Vivian Harris lived in Queanbeyan before moving to the Bega Valley in 2018.

A mother and a grandmother, Vivian is well known locally as a climate activist, having engaged in weekly Climate Strikes for most of the past three years. Vivian has qualifications in Veterinary Science, Education, and Environmental Health, and strives to bring that background to highlighting the multiple impacts of climate change on human health and the need for urgent collective and political action.

Living for fifteen years in the low socio-economic Macleay Valley, and drawing on her own experiences as a casual and temporary contract worker, Vivian knows first hand that the health of a community depends being able to earn a living wage, and having access to good quality and affordable health, education, and housing. Vivian acknowledges the climate emergency and aims to live accordingly. She has reduced her own carbon emissions to net zero and is now campaigning for the Australian nation achieving Net Zero by 2035 in line with what the IPCC report says is necessary.

The 2022 IPCC Report says that we need to make massive reductions to carbon emissions in all sectors of society as a matter of urgency while protecting people and the environment. Reading the Technical Summary of the IPCC Report is like reading Australian Greens Policies.

Only The Greens can deliver real change through initiatives such as:
● net zero emissions by 2035
● ending native forest logging yesterday
● a government supported shift to 100% renewables
● free childcare
● a national housing strategy with universal public housing access
● eradication of poverty and an increase in Jobseeker
● publicly funded primary dental care and mental health
● a billionaires’ wealth tax

Only The Greens have a vision for the future.

I have lived in the Eden Monaro electorate for decades and during that time I have owned several small businesses in Queanbeyan, including two cafes.

I have three university degrees, including a Graduate Diploma of Law. I have held senior public affairs positions in federal government departments and I have managed a number of high profile government public relations programs, including the Healthy Active Ambassador Program and the Ambassador for Ageing Program.

In 2007 I created my own national political party, called Hear Our Voice, and I ran for the federal Senate.  I was not successful but it gave me a comprehensive understanding of how the political landscape in this country operates. In 2012 I was elected to Queanbeyan Council and served one term.  I decided not to run again because I wanted to concentrate on my current small business, which is located in Canberra.

A few years ago I founded a not-for-profit, called Hear Our Voice, which is dedicated to promoting equal representation of women in our parliaments. I have been a board member on a number of community organisations, including Victims of Crime ACT and Woden Community Service.

Eden Monaro is a large and diverse electorate with so much going for it.  As the Member for Eden Monaro I would vigorously advocate for each unique area of the region, and I would work with the community to ensure the needs of the electorate are met.

I want to defend the right for Australians to choose traditional and natural therapies, and include them in the public health system. I also want to promote organic food and farming, and promote GMO-free food and labelling.

As the member for Eden Monaro I would take the role as representing the people living in the electorate very seriously, and I want to make sure the community is part of all decision making that affects them.

Andrew Thaler lives in Nimmitabel with his wife and three young children. Together with his wife he runs a scrap metal recycling business in Cooma. He has a background in resource conservation and management, having operated a recycling business for more than 20 years after establishing it as a second year apprentice Electrical Fitter. He is also actively involved in Solar Energy and several years ago purchased the Singleton Solar Farm from the state government. He has previously contested Monaro, Eden-Monaro, the NSW Legislative Council and the recent Bega by-election.

Source: ABC

Boyd Shannon was the One Nation candidate for the Brisbane seat of Maiwar at the 2020 Queensland election.

Source: ABC

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