AN ELECTION candidates forum organised by the Whitsunday Conservation Council was well attended last week…but not by candidates.
The free forum, held at the Reef Gateway Hotel, Cannonvale, on Thursday night, attracted more than 30 people keen to hear what the candidates had to say on a range of topics, including the environment, climate change and the Great Barrier Reef, among others.
Unfortunately, only one candidate attended and that was Paula Creen of the Queensland Greens, despite all seven candidates having been invited.
Organisers expressed their disappointment at the lack of candidates’ present but said there had been lively discussion and a lot of information shared, nevertheless.
“It wasn’t that long ago, that candidates running for office were keen as mustard to talk to the community…all the community, about all issues,” WCC spokesman Tony Fontes said.
“After all, every vote counts. But not this year, it would seem.”
Mr Fontes said all seven Dawson candidates were invited to the Whitsunday Conservation Council’s (WCC) free community candidate forum.
“WCC has run numerous candidate forums in the past, all well attended by community and candidates and all above board and apolitical,” he said.
“This year, all candidates bar one, declined the invitation. It was only the Greens candidate Paula Creen that accepted.”
WCC sent those candidates who didn’t accept the forum questions, asking them to provide the answers for the community, which would be presented at a virtual candidate forum.
“Only one candidate made the effort to provide answers…the Greens Candidate, Paula Creen,” Mr Fontes said.
“WCC was not deterred and ran a virtual candidates forum for the community.
“The information presented and discussed was gleaned from the various party websites and recent media.
“Much time was spent studying the parties’ websites to determine their environmental policies.”
Mr Fontes said it then ‘became apparent’ why the candidates avoided the community forum.
“With rare exception, the parties offer very little in the way of effective environmental policies,” he said.
“Given our region’s dependence on a healthy environment, this is extremely disappointing.
“It is a well known fact that a healthy environment supports a healthy economy.
“If our candidates can’t be bothered to attend to the needs of a community forum, one has to wonder if they will attend to our needs as our elected local member.”
The House of Representatives candidates for the Dawson electorate (from the AEC website):
Michael LOCKYER – Trumpet of Patriots
Alexander John BEAUMONT – Gerard Rennick People First
Amanda NICKSON – Family First Party Australia
Andrew WILLCOX – Liberal National Party of Queensland
Darren BROWN – Pauline Hanson’s One Nation
Paula CREEN – Queensland Greens
Neil WALLACE – Australian Labor Party (State of Queensland).
