Greens Candidate for Mitchell, Colin Dawson, responds to our questionnaire

You can view our question list for all candidates here.

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Greens Candidate for Mitchell, Colin Dawson, responded :

* What are your thoughts on asylum seekers?
• Offshore processing is a failure.
• Children should not be held in detention centres.
• It is likely that some asylum applicants are being coached in the
appropriate responses to UNHCR assessment.
• It is imperative to eliminate the role of people smugglers in the
process of asylum.
• The most effective long-term approach is to reduce unrest in the
homelands of asylum seekers, through aid, fair dealing with poor
countries, mediation, and by not contributing to armed conflict.

* What are your thoughts on public transport?
• The current priority of transport spending on roads should be
changed to favour public transport and cycling.
• Transport must acknowledge the needs of the old, the young and the
poor, who frequently cannot drive.
• Route and service planning should be underpinned by census and other
data that reflects actual need – the process needs to be politically
neutral.
• Commuter car parking at suburban transport hubs is a blind spot in
the existing planning process of all authorities and governments.

* What are your thoughts on renewable energy?
• Australia must immediately suspend the development of coal fired
power stations.
• The technology already exists for Australia to move rapidly to at
least 50% renewable energy.
• The opportunity to build high-value local industries around
renewable energy is being wasted.
• As an interim measure, gas-fired power stations are preferable to
coal-fired due to lower emissions and better ability to respond to
fluctuating loads.

* Do you support or oppose the introduction of the R18+ rating
classification for video games?
Support.
However, classification alone will likely not be sufficient to protect
young people from inappropriate games. Given that most of these game
require an internet connection, it would be possible to validate the
player’s identity by a variety of techniques.

* Do you support or oppose the proposed internet filter?
Oppose
It would likely be as successful as the home insulation project.
Federal governments need to plan and legislate, but stay out of
implementation. Filtering can be (and already is) provided by families
and schools.

* Do you support or oppose gay marriage?
Support
However, marriage for cultural or traditional reasons should not have
any legally binding status. This should instead be established by a
legally binding civil partnership arrangement, which is entirely
separate from marriage.
The conferring of marriage would then be subject to the rules and
traditions of the institution from which participants seek it.

* What are your thoughts on abortion?
Woman’s choice, subject to restriction on late-term abortions

* Do you support or oppose the legalisation of voluntary euthanasia?
Yes
What are your thoughts on stem cell research?
Approve, subject to regulatory control covering sourcing of cells and
research objectives

* What are your thoughts on education?
Equal funding for all students

* What are your thoughts on campaign finance disclosure?
• All donations should be immediately disclosed in a register and
available for scrutiny over the internet.
• Donations should not be permitted from property developers, gambling
industry, tobacco
industry, nor other industries that are under suspicion of improperly
influencing political decision making.
• Donations would not be so attractive if the current advertising arms
race between political parties was restricted.

* What are your thoughts on climate change?
• Climate change is without doubt influenced by human activities.
• Early response will be more effective and less costly than delayed response.
• Regardless of climate change, it is necessary for humans to move
towards a more sustainable lifestyle.
• A planned response with advice from scientists, community and
industry need not prejudice Australia’s economic performance, and will
lead to a better quality of life.

* What are your thoughts on water?
• There are huge opportunities to increase rainwater harvesting and
water recycling in urban centres
• Natural environmental flows must be protected and in many cases restored.
• Some agricultural and industrial processes are too water intensive
to ever be viable in Australia

* Do you support or oppose standing order 50?
Oppose
However, would support if all faiths were given equal access,
including members with no religious affiliation, but not in a way that
encroaches on parliamentary sitting time. All interested participants
should therefore arrive an hour before start of parliamentary session,
and listen to each others’ prayer or statements of values.

* Are there any local issues you are trying to highlight with your campaign?
If is not entirely practical to discuss local issues in a Federal
election. The Greens have excellent published principles regarding
sustainable urban development and public transport that would likely
influence:
• Restrictions on development in sensitive and protected areas, e.g.
Cumbeland Woodland.
• Urgent development of public transport between North-West of Sydney
and popular work locations.

* What do you think about the media’s coverage of the election so far?
Compliant, insipid
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– Colin Dawson Convenor, Hills Greens M 0414 906 837 www.hillsgreens.org.au