With the federal election to be held early this year, some parties are beginning their campaigns in earnest including the Newcastle Greens recently announcing their federal candidate.
Newcastle Ward 2 Greens councillor Charlotte McCabe was announced as the federal candidate for the Newcastle Greens on February 25 at a campaign launch on Kooragang Island.
Along with her councillor duties, Cr McCabe is a primary school teacher, community activist, and previously a candidate for the Greens in the 2019 state election.
The campaign launch was also attended by Greens leader Adam Bandt and NSW lead Senate candidate David Shoebridge.
“I’m deeply honoured that the Newcastle community has recently elected me to council, and now I hope to run a vibrant, positive and inspiring campaign that demonstrates what Greens’ policies will achieve for the country,” Cr McCabe said.
“Newcastle residents know David Shoebridge and know what a huge win for Newcastle his election would be as he understands our city and our issues in fine-grain detail.”
Cr McCabe said Newcastle would benefit greatly if the Greens gained a balance of power in the upcoming federal election.
“We have fantastic opportunities in Newcastle and the Hunter to maintain our rightful place as the energy powerhouse of NSW,” Cr McCabe said.
“As the world’s biggest exporter of coal, Newcastle can lead by example and put in place the jobs and industries of the future right now, before our coal exports wind up and before climate impacts worsen.
“We have incredible renewable energy resources here with huge offshore wind potential as well as onshore wind and solar access … and, in addition, we have a high voltage transmission grid that’s primed to transport clean energy to our homes and sustain new manufacturing industries like green steel and green hydrogen.”
Cr McCabe said it was essential to have more Greens in parliament to block “outdated policies and support positive change”.
She said focused key issues would include affordable housing, mental and dental health care and making all levels of education free.
“The Greens are the only party that is offering genuine, positive solutions,” Cr McCabe said.
“We are the only serious alternative to the increasingly indistinguishable major parties.”
Cr McCabe has been a spokesperson for the Tighes Hill Community Group on coal terminal related issues, including coal dust, ammonium nitrate storage and coal port diversification.
She’s also been a spokesperson for the Protect Our Coast Alliance on the successful Stop PEP11 offshore gas campaign.
“I’ve worked as a teacher in Victoria, the Northern Territory and New South Wales, and I’ve seen first hand struggling public schools, exhausted teachers and kids slipping through the cracks without the support they need,” Cr McCabe said.
“I’ve been involved with grassroots, community campaigns to protect nature across the country, but despite having the science, the economics and community support on our side, we lost nearly every campaign.
“So, after witnessing social and environmental injustices worsening, I decided to step up and get involved.”
According to the Australian Parliament statement, if the Government holds a normal House of Representatives and half-Senate federal election, election day must be no later than May 21, 2022.
The statement said the Government could change its current sitting calendar, but if the Federal Budget is handed down on March 29, there would only be three possible election days, May 7, 14 and 21.
Hayley McMahon