Candidates standing in Page Electorate at 21 May 2022 Federal General Election - Part 4. Brett Duroux, in his own words

 

Brett Duroux
IMAGE: Facebook

Brett Duroux, Indigenous-Aboriginal Party of Australia (IPA). Chairperson at Gugiyn Balun Aboriginal Corporation since November 2021 and works at Grafton Ngerrie Local Aboriginal Land Council.

Clarence Valley Independent, 19 January 2022:

A proud Yaegl, Bundjalung and Gumbaynggirr man, Mr Duroux said in representing the IPA at the federal election, he is campaigning for his local community to give them a strong voice and leadership, to promote respect for the land, encourage unity and equality and advocate the policies of his party in parliament….

While he had never previously considered entering politics, he is looking forward to a lot of legwork during the next few months and spending time meeting and speaking with members of the Clarence Valley community.

“What interests me is talking to people about their concerns and getting answers for them, and helping my community in any way I can,” he said.

“I believe in positive change for our community.

“I also want to focus on strengthening the relationships between Land Councils and traditional owners and encourage them to work together.”

Mr Duroux said he is looking forward to campaigning in the lead up to the federal election and is welcoming community consultation.

Coast Community News, 24 November 2021:

….last week Brett Duroux, the IPA’s candidate for the Page electorate on the mid north coast, visited the area to see the cultural site firsthand.

He said he wanted to learn more about NSW Forestry Corporation’s Harvest and Haul Plan which could potentially impact the site.

“Forestry’s plans are concerning as the cultural site is not identified as such on the harvest maps that they operate under, and instead are noted as being an ‘other significant area/non harvest area (OSF)’ with no buffer required for logging,” he said.

“The plans state that trails and roads can be used for haulage and snigging if they traverse through the exclusion area.

“This is extremely alarming considering a cultural site is at stake and the rock platform the site is located on has already been damaged in the past by heavy machinery tracks.”

He said Ourimbah State Forest provided habitat for many native species including the endangered Glossy Black Cockatoo, Large Owl and Forest Bats.

“The OSF is also a known koala habitat, despite Forestry’s plans stating otherwise….

The Forestry Corporation’s Harvesting and Haul plan covers an area of over 370ha of which 108.4ha is deemed “harvestable”.

The expected yield is 3,900 cubic metres, of which 1,000 will be sawlogs, 150 cubic metres will be poles, with the remaining 2,750 cubic metres being pulp, firewood and low-quality salvage…..

Duroux said more than three billion animals, more than one billion of them in NSW, were estimated to have been killed or displaced in recent bushfires, including some rare or threatened animal, plant and insect species, with the complete loss of some species believed to be permanent.

“In NSW alone, more than half of the native forests were burned in the 2019/20 bushfires, with one billion native animals killed or displaced… and yet, the NSW Government continues to desecrate our native forest and cultural sites, to harvest pulp and firewood for an industry that runs at significant financial loss.

“In 2019/20 the profit from native forest logging was $28 a hectare, equating to less than 20 cents for each mature tree logged.

“The Government provided $136M in grants over the past 10 years to this unprofitable industry, equating to a huge loss for NSW, both financially and environmentally.”

Duroux said he believed Central Coast Council had colluded on the plans despite its ongoing public relations campaign applauding the Coast’s Aboriginal heritage and OSF, winning awards for being an Adventure Tourism destination.

He said that the Indigenous Party supported Camp Ourimbah, a small contingent of very dedicated environmental caretakers, who take peaceful direct action to stop native forest logging…..

Duroux said the Indigenous Party of Australia would be writing to local politicians and State ministers, including Environment Minister, Matt Kean, demanding an end to the unprofitable, damaging practice of logging in native forests, including Ourimbah State Forest.

Candidates standing in Page Electorate at 21 May 2022 Federal General Election - Part 3. Patrick Deegan, in his own words

Clarence Valley Independent, 6 April 2022:

The Australian Labor Party candidate for the seat of Page Patrick Deegan is confident ahead of the 2022 Federal Election. Image: Contributed

After polling strongly in the 2019 Federal Election with more than 43000 votes, the Australian Labor Party’s candidate for the seat of Page Patrick Deegan has spoken of his confidence in gaining additional support and momentum ahead of the 2022 Federal Election.

A seasoned campaigner with more than 20 years’ experience working in the community services sector, an extensive knowledge of administrative and financial management, and a dedicated passion to help those around him, Mr Deegan acknowledged there have been many changes including droughts, devastating bushfires, a global pandemic and most recently, unprecedented flooding since the previous Federal Election, and he is determined to give the people of Page a strong voice in Canberra as a representative who can be trusted and relied upon to fight for local communities across the region.

For the past eight years, Mr Deegan said the electorate of Page has been overlooked and neglected by the Nationals and Liberal Party of Australia, identifying various funding cuts to educational facilities including schools and TAFE, and missed employment opportunities and industries as key issues and polices to be addressed should he be elected.

“I am genuinely proud to be the Labor candidate for Page, and there is a lot of fast action which needs to be taken,” he explained.

“We still have people without permanent accommodation following the 2019 Black Summer bushfires and we need to ensure they are looked after.

“The people impacted by the current disasters, specifically the flooding, we need practical solutions to help them, to make insurance affordable for them, to make sure impacted businesses can survive and remain in the area, and we need to secure local employment and increase wage growth.

“We also need to address the housing crisis and make living more affordable.

“Our aged care system is under immense pressure, and we need to make it feasible for aged care providers and workers, and ensure they are paid a liveable wage.

“The Nationals have been taking Page for granted, and the people who call this electorate home need and deserve strong leadership, and that is what I am committed to.”

Mr Deegan said it is important to look ahead and rebuild for the future, and a Labor Government will deliver “a better future for all Australians.”

“My family has lived in the electorate of Page for generations, and I have long term connections to our local communities, and I understand them inside and out,” he said.

“I am passionate, and I genuinely care about the people I would be representing.”

Candidates standing in Page Electorate at 21 May 2022 Federal General Election - Part 2. Hanabeth Luke, in her own words

Dr. Hannabeth Luke
IMAGE: https://www.hanabethluke.com.au/

Hi, I’m Dr Hanabeth Luke and I am running as your Independent candidate for Page.

I’m a scientist and Marine Rescue volunteer. I teach at Southern Cross University and I’m raising a family in Evans Head.

I’m disappointed with what I see in politics and think we can do better.

We need a local champion to represent our values and views in Canberra.

I will fight for decency and honesty in government, with a fair allocation of funding to strengthen our regional industries and health systems.

I stand for a fair future where everyone has a home, with quality education and training for all the people of Page.

We need to plan for a rapid transition to a carbon neutral economy that supports our farmers and communities.

I have the integrity and decency to speak up for our region.

All I need is your vote!

Media Release: THE DEBATE IS DONE? The Conversation is Only Just Beginning by clarencegirl on Scribd

Candidates standing in Page Electorate at 21 May 2022 Federal General Election - Part 1. Kashmir Miller, in her own words

Clarence Valley Independent, 13 April 20222:

Kashmir Miller, a fifth-generation Northern Rivers woman and a passionate youth advocate, is proud to be The Greens candidate for the seat of Page in the 2022 Federal Election. Image: Contributed

 

Born and raised in Lismore, 22-year-old Kashmir Miller 

is proud to be The Greens candidate for the seat of 

Page in the 2022 Federal Election.

After experiencing the catastrophic floods which

devastated Northern NSW, Ms Miller said during the 

past month locals have “watched the climate 

catastrophe arrive in our communities and our homes.”

“I’m here to tell the government that the time for

community consultation is far from over, and that we

cannot engineer our way out of the climate crisis,” she

said.

Ms Miller is adamant Australia needs a Federal

Government that is prepared to act seriously on climate

change, by legislating towards net zero by 2030, and

adapting to the challenges of more extreme weather

events that climate change brings.

“The reality of climate change after the recent floods is 

that the existing affordable housing crisis will worsen,”

she explained.

“Comprehensive mental health care is also vital to support

displaced communities and it must be included in

Medicare.

“I am running for The Greens because they are the only

party which have fought over many years on climate

change, properly funded health and education, and for

showing proper respect to our environment and our

diverse populations, particularly Indigenous and LGBTIQ+

people.

“The Greens have a long track record in improving the

integrity of our democracy in NSW through political

donation reforms and support for ICAC, measures that

are needed in Canberra too.”

Prior to commencing her political career, Ms Miller trained

as an actor and has been involved with local community

theatre for over 10 years.

She is passionate about providing the arts community with

the support it needs to get back on its feet.

“I experienced first-hand the effects of Federal 

Government cuts to arts schools and also to student

support, and this has led me to become a youth advocate

for the Raise the Rate campaign, fighting for students to

have a liveable income and address the housing crisis,”

she said.

“We need more representation for young people, LGBTQI+

 people and women, as The Nationals and Labor are falling

 behind.

“Parliament is severely lacking in diversity, and I will not 

sit around and wait for someone to fix it. “Politics is not

 easily accessible for people in my generation and our

 current MPs do not reflect our values.”

Ms Miller is currently finishing a law degree at Southern

Cross University (SCU) and has a long history of

involvement in local community groups.

She said she is excited to engage with the communities of

the electorate of Page to understand their values and 

what they want from their elected representatives, so she

can better represent them in Parliament.

Tweets of the Week

Lismore this morning: a PUBLIC READING OF THE FAILURES of the Coalition on climate. Our town crier read a list of 22 failures. Crown yelled ‘shame’ after each of them. #auspol #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/MVBh4DcCwW

— Annie Kia (@AnnieKia) May 1, 2019

The Prime Minister and Opposition Leader both visited Agfest in Tasmania today. At the bar the guy pouring the beers says to Bill Shorten, "At least you paid Scomo didn't pay." pic.twitter.com/lwGxxmCAm4

— David Sharaz (@DavidSharaz) May 2, 2019

The Liberal & Nationals answer to all the water policy mistakes they have made in the past. Full speed ahead to make some more!

In 2006 the Howard Coalition Government’s then Minister for Water Malcolm Bligh Turnbull attempted an under-the-radar progression of a proposal to dam and divert water from the Clarence River system into the Murray Darling Basin. He was sprung and it lost his government the seat of Page in 2007.

When Tony Abbott was prime minister he was all gung-ho for damming east coast rivers, but was by then wary of the mood of Clarence Valley communities.

Despite a certain coolness on Tony Abbott’s part and Turnbull's silence once he followed Abbott as prime minister, the wannabee water raiders within the Basin have never given up on the idea of destroying the Clarence River in order to continue lucrative water trading for profit and inappropriate levels of farm irrigation in the Basin.

This is a mockup of what these raiders would like to see along the Clarence River. 

North Coast Voices, 1 March 2013

On 30 April 2019 Scott Morrison and Co announced the proposed creation of the National Water Grid which in effect informs communities in the Northern Rivers region that our wishes, being “political” because we are not their handpicked ‘experts’, will be ignored when it comes to proposed large-scale water diversion projects including dams if they are re-elected on 18 May 2019.

The Daily Examiner, 4 May 2019, p.10:

“Just add water” is the Nationals’ answer to “unleashing the potential” of regional Australia but it would come at a cost to areas flush with the precious resource.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack announced on Tuesday at the National Press Club that a returned Coalition government would establish an authority, the National Water Grid, to manage water policy and infrastructure.

“We know the key to unlocking the potential of regional Australia is simple – just add water,” he said.

The announcement of the National Water Grid has sparked fears the Clarence and Nymboida rivers may be dammed to irrigate drought-stricken areas of the country – a prospect the Clarence Valley community has faced before.

The Nationals’ Page MP, Kevin Hogan, said there were “no plans to dam the Clarence River”.

“There are proposals in other drought-affected areas of the country,” he said…..

The planned National Water Grid would ensure water infrastructure would be based on the best available science, “not on political agendas”, Mr McCormack said.

It would “provide the pipeline of all established, current and future water infrastructure projects and then identify the missing links”.

Mr McCormack said dams were the answer to “create jobs”, “back agriculture and back farmers”.

“While we are being bold and building big, we are often stopped at the first hurdle when it comes to short-sighted state governments that choose politics over practicality, and indeed science,” he said…..

Preferences show the quality of the politiciian

Kevin Hogan rising from his seat among Coalition MPs to greet his prime minister

Nationals MP for Page Kevin Hogan has never voted against Coalition policy positions or the Abbott-Turnbull Morrison Government's proposed motions and bills being considered by the House of Representatives.

When the media coverage were going badly against the newly installed Morrison Coalition Government he took fright and declared he was that grotesque chimera - an "Independent  National".

As a so-called "Independent National" Hogan is still a member of the National Party of Australia, still attends Nationals partyroom meeting, remains the Nationals Whip in the House of Representatives and also remains the Morrison Government's Deputy Speaker and never - I repeat never - votes against Coalition policy positions or the Morrison Government's proposed motions and bills.

Holding this unofficial title of convenience also means that Hogan rarely if ever sits on the cross benches with the genuine Independents.

Hogan's how-to-vote cards mailled out during this federal election campaign also reflect the fact that he remains a National Party member of parliament with allegiance to Prime Minister Morrison and Deputy Prime Minister McCormack.

His voting preferences for the House of Representatives ballot are:

1. Kevin Hogan - National Party of Australia
2. John Damien Mudge - United Australia Party (UAP) - party leader Clive Palmer
3. Peter Walker - Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)
4. Fiona Leviny - former Nationals member and current Independent
5. Alison Waters - Animal Justice Party
6. Dan Reid - The Australian Greens
7. Patrick Deegan - Australian Labor Party (ALP)

Hogan's voting preferences for the Senate ballot are:

1. Liberal & Nationals, party leaders Scott Morrison & Michael McCormack
2. Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)
3. United Australia Party (UAP), party leader Clive Palmer
4. Liberal Democratic Party, acting federal party leader Andrew Cooper replacing David Leyonhjelm
5. Australian Conservatives, party leader Corey Bernardi
6. The Small Business Party, party leader Angela Vithoulkas

So there you have it. Kevin Hogan favours hard right candidates similar to himself, is willing to continue supporting climate change denialists, as well as politicians and wannabee politicians who wish to foist their personal religious beliefs on the Australian population and/or wish to suppress ordinary workers wages, and is publicly throwing his support behind one particular party leader who became infamous by stealing wages owed to his employees after sacking them, then leaving taxpayers footing the bill for the economic destruction he caused.

The only reason Hogan is not preferencing racist candidates representing Pauline Hanson's One Nation and Fraser Anning's Conservative Nationals Party (as his prime minister is doing) is that these parties are not fielding candidates in the Page electorate.

Morrison and Frydenberg caught out deceiving Treasury officials and lying to the national electorate as the federal election campaign kicked off last week

On 11 April 2019, the same day Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the federal election date, The Sydney Morning Herald reported:

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will use new Treasury costings to warn Australians of a $387 billion burden from Labor tax hikes and revenue increases in an incendiary attack after launching the May 18 federal election campaign.

Mr Morrison will use the figures to outline the full impact of Labor's plan to oppose $230 billion in personal income tax cuts and extract another $157 billion in higher revenue from negative gearing, dividend changes and other measures.

However this alleged Treasury advice was not distributed to journalists.

Instead they allegedly received this:

via @Bowenchris

Which is definitely not a Treasury document, couched as it is in terms of election slogans such as “Retiree tax” for changes to the treatment of excess franking credits, “Housing tax” for changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax, "Superannuation tax" for changes to the cap on non-concessional superannuation contributions and "Family business tax" to changes to the rules for private discretionary trusts.

However, the truth will out…….

Chief political correspondent for The Age:

"We were not asked to cost another party's policies and would not do so if the request was made specifically to 'cost Party X's policy'," Treasury Secretary Phil Gaejtens told Labor.https://t.co/dFuxDroM7O

— David Crowe (@CroweDM) April 12, 2019

What is missing from this deception on the part of Morrison & Co is the exact wording of the request to cost received by Treasury - we already know they didn't classify the request in terms of it containing details of Labor policies.

If its anything like the last time the Liberal-Nationals pulled this particular unethical campaign trick, what Treasury was actually asked to cost was slightly different to Labor’s stated policies.