Elections > Federal Election 2007 > Candidates

Jodi Kirkby

The Australian Greens candidate for Boothby

Why I am standing

When I heard on the radio that John Howard planned to turn Australia into a nuclear waste dump if he was elected again it absolutely horified me. A week later I was approached by the Greens to run and I realised this was an opportunity to actually be part of a positive and forward-thinking Australian political team that can actually make a difference in the quality of everyone's lives.

Australians are being short changed by the major parties who care more for their own interests than those of the community. No other party’s policies reflect the caring, respect and compassion for ALL Australians and their environment that is found in Greens policy.

The Greens are a party that puts people and our future prosperity ahead of short term greed.

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Important issues in my electorate

Whilst speaking with people within the electorate I discovered that most people are concerned about climate change and water, health and education. These are areas in which the Greens also feel very strongly about and have sound policy. I would like to implement policy and investment in the following:


Turning every home in Australia into a mini power plant by putting solar on every roof at no upfront expense or time to the occupier/homeowner.

Investing in public transport by fixing outdated and dangerous trains and improving public transport service overall to make it frequent, safe and reliable.

Implement major investment in water infrastructure, including encouraging business and industry to utilise waste and stormwater rather than drinking water.

Increasing funding towards health and hospitals, including better conditions for our health workers, slashing waiting lists and improving facilities.

Reintroduction of the Commonwealth Dental Assistance Scheme for pensioners and low income earners.

Abolishing university fees and HECS debts.

Provide funding support, research and development for local manufacturing businesses to address the considerable decline in manufacturing jobs over the last decade.

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Important policy documents

For complete list of policy go to:

http://greens.org.au/election/policy.php

If you are strapped for time I have included snippets below:

CLIMATE CHANGE
Ratify the Kyoto Protocol
Introduce binding science based targets to reduce carbon emissions by 30% below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80% by 2050.
Increase renewable energy production from the current 2% to 15% by 2012 and 25% by 2020.

NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS, POWER, WASTE DUMPS, URANIUM MINING OR ENRICHMENT FACILITIES

WORK
Repeal Federal WorkChoices legislation and abolish Australian Workplace Agreements
Establish strong expanded safety net of minimum conditions, restore the award system
Introduce national industrial manslaughter laws so that employers take workplace safety seriously.
Provide Government funded parental leave scheme – 18 weeks paid leave and 34 weeks unpaid leave
Increase childcare payments to low and middle income families

ENVIRONMENT
End logging of old growth and high conservation value forests
Support comprehensive ban on commercial and “scientific” whaling

HEALTH
Reintroduction of Commonwealth Dental Health Program for pensioners and low income earners.
Establish 24 hour community mental health services
Address the injustice and disadvantage within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and achieve equality of health and wellbeing within a generation.

EDUCATION
Increase funding for all levels of public education including TAFE and university
Abolish university fees and forgive HECS debts
Provide a living allowance for full time tertiary students

ECONOMY
Support development renewable energy industry and create new high skill jobs in manufacturing industry while reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Reform taxation system to eliminate perverse tax breaks and subsidies to polluting industries
Promote local manufacturing.

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Contact Details

Other Candidates

BOSSIE, Craig - DEM
COLE, Andrew - FFP
CORNES, Nicole - ALP
HUMPHREYS, David - LDP
MCGHEE, Ray - IND
PANNACH, Barbara - ON
* SOUTHCOTT, Andrew - LP

* incumbent