Townsville – Jenny Stirling – The Australian Greens

Please take a moment to introduce yourself.

My name is Jenny Stirling, I am the Greens candiate for Townsville. My profession is that of a social worker and I work in aged care; and as an advocate for refugees and migrants as part of an overall programme that promotes multiculturalism. I am a mother of 4 children and a grandmother of two boys.

What are your thoughts on coal seam gas?

It is a fraudulent technology based on the idea that csg produces less greenhouse gas emissions than coal- that it is a climate change transition fuel, a claim that has been seriously undermined by recent research in the United States; the frakking process has the potential to seriously compromise the integrity of ground water and aquifers with pollutants like benzene and heavy metals when coal seams are burst to release the gas dissolved in water; the water that comes to the surface carries with it the same problems as well as vast quantities of salt; pipe lines criss-cross valuable farmland taking it out of production; the csg processing also takes large amounts of water from aquifers and this has caused problems for farmers and pastoralists.

What are your thoughts on the dredging of the great barrier reef?
The LNG plants that process the csg are based at Gladstone and millions of tonnes of matter is dredged to make the channels there accessible to the huge tankers which will take this product overseas. This dredging has already been fingered as the culprit for the fish kills and deaths of dugong and turtles in that area. UNESCO has filed it’s concern that this process will cause the Great Barrier Reef to lose its world heritage listing which would seriously impact n tourism and further protection of the Reef.

What are your thoughts on water?
Australia is the driest continent on the planet. As such our water is sacrosanct. So we need to conserve our water as much as we can, seek to make any run off from farms, tailings dams on mine sites, urban discharge, and industrial usage much more circumspect.

What are your thoughts on climate change?
Australians need to own up to our contribution to dangerous climate change with our expanding coal exports and now csg. The Great Barrier reef is in danger of rising sea temperatures, coral bleaching, rising ocean acidity levels, extreme weather events including more intense cyclones.

What are your thoughts on renewable energy?
North Queensland where I live has the potential to deliver solar thermal base power. The 100% Renewable Energy plan would have all of this country run on renewable energy as a mix between solar, wind and bio-mass.

What are your thoughts on nuclear energy?
I am campaigning against resumption of uranium mining in Qld. Townsville has a history of being anti-nuclear and a nuclear free zone and I aim for it to stay that way even though there are massive deposits and corporate pressures to see it resumed in Mt. Isa – Townsville would be the port for any ore mined there..

What are your thoughts on public transport?
It’s the way to go as we see in Europe and elsewhere . The price of fuel is exorbitant and it makes sense for us to get off the roads as much as we can with the cost of living becoming a real pain for many people.

What are your thoughts on public education?
The right to enjoy free education was won many years ago but Australians have forgotten that in the last 30 years. Parents now go into serious debt to provide a private education for their children where once we had the best for free. What’s wrong with this picture?

What are your thoughts on the National Broadband Network?
It is very expensive but a necessary perice of infrastructure for our economy.

What are your thoughts on High-Speed Rail?

Good idea- the Greens introduced this into the national arena in the last federal election. I would love to see one zooming up and down the coast of Queensland.

What are your thoughts on abortion?
It’s an issue between a woman, her doctor and her conscience- it should legal, safe and accessible. However I do not believe that it should be used as a form of contraception.

Do you support or oppose gay marriage?
I support gay marriage and have been invited to speak on the issue to the LGBT group in Townsville.

Do you support or oppose the legalisation of voluntary euthanasia?
I am undecided on this issue because of personal experience with chronic illness. However I accept as a worker in aged care that for many, life is untenable when serious illness takes away all quality of life.

Do you support or oppose the legalisation of marijuana?
I think it should be decriminalised. However I also acknowledge that abuse of this drug promotes schizophrenic episodes

What are your thoughts on campaign finance disclosure?
It should be a transparent and very regular process.

Do you support or oppose the reading of prayers to start each Parliamentary day, and why?
I am a Christian and think the separation between Church and state is an important element in a democratic society.

On your particular electoral ticket, where are your preferences going, and why?
The Greens in Townsville will not be allocating preferences. We believe people can make up their own minds.

Are there any local issues you are trying to highlight with your campaign?
Health, renewable energy, disaster management and planning for cyclones – Yasi was through here a year ago with devastating effect for communities an hour north.

What do you think about the media’s coverage of the election so far?
Pathetic.

One comment to Townsville – Jenny Stirling – The Australian Greens

  • Chris

    Australia: the driest continent, so long as you don’t count the actual driest continent.

    “However I do not believe that it should be used as a form of contraception”
    Really, the Greens are now pushing the religious right’s “abortion as contraception” line, now? Here’s a thought: Family First voters aren’t going to switch to Green because you give lip service to one of their bits of bullshit propoganda. They’ll just enjoy the lip service and the validity it gives them, and keep on voting against women.

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