Mayo Candidates forum
organised by the Adelaide Hills Climate Change Action Group and
the Uniting, Anglican and Catholic Churchs of the Hills
Content of my delivery:
Climate change
I believe that human activity has accelerated any natural increase that may have been occurring in the average global temperature. Industrialisation with the associate increase in burning of the fossil fuels coal and oil along with the clearing of forested lands has unbalanced the carbon cycle.
I would support any activity designed to reduce the amount of CO2 being generated each year. We must reduce our reliance on coal, oil and gas fired power stations and shift the emphasis to renewable energy sources like solar and wind power generation. I think the means test of the photovoltaic systems is counter-productive and should be removed. I would also encourage a move away from centralized power generation and its associate transmission losses to a more localized system with wind or solar generators on every home and cogeneration of heat and power within large buildings.
Although I accept that growing trees is a reasonable method of sequestering carbon I have concerns that approach may bring with it its own environmental problems. Mono-cultures, excessive demand on local water resources, conversion of land from other more productive uses. I think it is a waste of time and money trying to find ways of pump CO2 underground.
We need to change the attitude of society to one which is less consumer oriented. We have come to expect convenience items and immediate gratification of our needs and wants. As a society we don’t have to have everything.
The environment
There are a number of environmental issues that concern me.
- Land clearing
- Excessive water extraction – surface and underground
- Species extinction
- Habitat loss
- Introduced pest plants and animals
- Future entry of exotic species (ship ballast water)
I would argue for and support any legislation which is designed to address these issues and I would also support more funding of local and national projects designed to help community’s address these issues.
Human rights
I am opposed to the current terrorism laws that allow a person to be incarcerated on suspicion alone and the prohibition of being able to talk about the experience.
When I look around the world I am disturbed by the numerous regimes where people are subjected to harsh treatment because of biased political systems. Like those controlling Tibet, Zimbabwe and Burma.
I think the government should speak out more about these and other examples of human rights abuse.
The world had no problem isolating South Africa over its apartheid regime but now we seem hesitant to put pressure on anyone else.
I believe in free speech and hold by the tenet: “I support your right to expression your opinion even when I do not agree with you”
Social justice
One of my guiding principles is fairness and equity. I am concerned about the welfare of sections of our society, the homeless, long-term unemployed, the live at home carers and the aged.
We are supposed to be a welfare society where we look after our disadvantaged groups. I have had the perception for a large number of years that our society has become more focus on the “I” rather than the “we”. This is probably correlated with the growth of consumerism and as I said earlier we need to shift the focus back to more important issues, like true quality of life. Less pressure to achieve and more time with the family.
“The goal of social justice is a more equal and just society, a goal that requires active government intervention and social change.” Carmen Lawrence 2003