Elections > Federal Election 2007 > Candidates

Dave Norris

The Australian Greens candidate for Fairfax

Federal Greens Candidate for Fairfax

Why I am standing

I have lived in the Fairfax electorate for 26 years. This has given me insight into the needs of each of its wide-ranging, unique communities.

I have a solid understanding of all tiers of government. Over a 2 year period I worked with Council as one of the 32 Maroochy 2025 Taskforce members, who documented 39,700 public responses to visioning questions to form the community's vision into the year 2025. This inspired me to join the Greens, and to run as a candidate in the 2004 federal election, achieving the highest Green vote in Queensland.

If elected, I would be the Greens local voice in Canberra. I believe this is the only way we can hope to protect our values and ensure a healthy, satisfying and stable future. We are at present the only Australian state without any form of Greens representation.

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Important issues in my electorate

* Sunshine Coast population growth is expected to double in less than 20 years. Planning must have a focus on the capability of the region to sustain population levels and maintain the lifestyle we came here for, without putting pressure on the natural environment.

* The Sunshine Coast has been identified by the Australia Institute as a most likely site for a nuclear power plant. Considering our water crisis and State Government talk of a desalination plant north of the Maroochy River mouth, this lends greater credibility that an integrated nuclear desalination plant may be built on our doorstep.

*The threat of sea level rise as a result of climate change will affect coastal property values.

* Increased funding is needed to improve the east-west public transport network. The answer to coastal traffic congestion lies in fast, reliable, regular, efficient and affordable public transport and better bikeways.

* Destruction of wildlife corridors and endangered species by inappropriate development is compromising the integrity of the Sunshine Coast's unique ecosystems.

* The proposed Kulangoor Bioreactor should be relocated to another area which does not impact on local residents.

* There is an urgent need for all sectors of the building construction industry to network and establish a protocol aimed to promote energy efficient, eco-friendly building design in order that this industry will be protected from constraints placed upon it by climate change.

*The Sunshine Coast's bush-by-beach appeal is fast disappearing and being replaced by inappropriate commercial and urban landscapes.

* There needs to be further investigation into the effects on the community of the proposed Maroochy international airport.

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Important policy documents

* Minimising the impacts of climate change by introducing binding, science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80% by 2050, and increasing renewable energy production.

* Building strong, eco-friendly, prosperous local economies, with stability for the building construction sector.

* Ensuring a safe, nuclear-free future by ending the mining and export of urganium and opposing the establishment of nuclear power plants, nuclear fuel processing, enrichment facilities and radioactive waste dumps in Australia.

* Making public transport more attractive by increasing funding to commuter services and infrastructure so that they are more frequent, accessible, safe, reliable and cost effective. The Greens will remove the GST from public transport.

* Universal access to high-quality health care including primary dental services through Medicare.

* Increased funding for all levels of public education and the abolition of HECS.

* Development of a national housing plan to expand availability of low-rent housing, with 20% low cost and public housing for new developments.

* For complete range of Greens policy details, please refer to www.greens.org.au/about/policy.

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Contact Details

Other Candidates

BLUMEL, Debbie - ALP
HASHEMI, Janette - DEM
PHILLIPS, Max - IND
SAVAGE, Kevin - ONWA
* SOMLYAY, Alex - LP
WATT, Kevin - CEC
WOODS, Lisa - FFP

* incumbent

Previous Elections

Dave has also been a candidate in the following elections:

Queensland Election 2006
Federal Election 2004