Sandgate – Mike Crook – Independent

Please take a moment to introduce yourself.

Mike Crook, Socialist candidate, ex ALP, main career as a project manager working on construction and mining, where I learnt how to hate the big corporations, also worked in Social Security and self employed retailer.
Now involved in community work including community gardens and Transition Towns movement. Political and social activist.

What are your thoughts on coal seam gas?

The CSG industry, along with the coal industry are symptomatic of a “gold rush” mentality where it is important to extract every dollar we can out of our resources while the boom is on. This with no thought whatsoever for the environment, workforce or community good. It is a sickening noxious, destructive industry that, like coal, actually has no net benefit to Queensland or Australia.

What are your thoughts on the dredging of the great barrier reef?

It is specifically excluded from the criteria for inclusion in world heritage and should not be allowed. Further, the dredging taking place in Gladstone is a continuance of 50 years of breaches of the Environmental Protection Act in places like Gladstone, an environmental and social disaster area.

What are your thoughts on water?

Water is our most valuable resource and should be used for food production, not CSG drilling. The Great Artesian basin should suffer no interference from industry.

What are your thoughts on climate change?

The debate should have been over 30 years ago, it is time for abatement action.

What are your thoughts on renewable energy?

Initiate the Beyond Zero Emissions plan immediately. Change to 100% renewables for energy by 2020. It is cheaper than not changing.

What are your thoughts on nuclear energy?

Nuclear Power is another word for insanity. Heard of Fukushima?

What are your thoughts on public transport?

Public transport should be free and frequent. There are cities such as Hasselt in Belgium where free public transport has been paid for by a reduction in road maintenance and other costs associated with motor car use. The Queensland Department of Transport has an unhealthy, probably corrupt fixation with handing out road building rather than rail building contracts. Brisbane is choking to death on its exhaust fumes, like every US city.

What are your thoughts on public education?

Every child should have equal access to education, there should be no private education system. Look at Finland for an example.

What are your thoughts on the National Broadband Network?

Fine, we need to be able to access information, and communications in a fast and fair manner.

What are your thoughts on High-Speed Rail?

Why are we behind every other country in the western world and most in the developing world. Get out of private and into public transport for all medium and long journeys. Air transport is very environmentally unfriendly.

What are your thoughts on abortion?

On demand, a womans choice.

Do you support or oppose gay marriage?

Support.

Do you support or oppose the legalisation of voluntary euthanasia?

Support

Do you support or oppose the legalisation of marijuana?

The war on drugs has failed, I call for the decriminalisation of all drugs not just marijuana. This is a health issue not a criminal one. The war on drugs has created the drug industry.

What are your thoughts on campaign finance disclosure?

In the system that we have, of public funding of political parties, there should be no need for funding from corporations or the wealthy and it should be banned.

Do you support or oppose the reading of prayers to start each Parliamentary day, and why?

Oppose, separation of church and state. Parliament should be secular.

On your particular electoral ticket, where are your preferences going, and why?

Greens only, they do not accept corporate donations. They also have a strong social justice platform. The ALP have become a business controlled party, and the LNP are owned by Clive Palmer, the obscenely fat coal billionaire.

Are there any local issues you are trying to highlight with your campaign?

The recent victories achieved by local community activism in the matter of McDonalds and The Racecourse. It is important the voters realise that the only legitimate power is that which comes from the people, working together.

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

Same woeful rubbish as usual, including the ABC.

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