A community independent for Canning
"CIP is values driven and focused beyond the electoral cycle for the greater good of society, the environment and the economy." According to Climate 200 in the 2022 federal election "nearly 1/3 of the country voted for an independent or minor party." The Australian people want something a lot better than what the big parties are giving us now. The electorate of Canning includes Kalamunda, Armadale, Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Murray, Mandurah, Waroona and Boddington. If we, the residents of Canning, can find and get elected a progressive community independent (teal) candidate we will make a big step forward toward a fairer and more sustainable future. A community independent member of parliament to represent Canning will be good for the community, the state, the nation and the world.
Contact: David K. Clarke – © |
Tree die-off in SA where I used to live
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These trees were defoliated by an exceptionally long, hot, dry summer. Many of them died. See here for more information on this event. In April 2024 the jarrah forests in WA are suffering from climate change too. |
IntroductionA number of community minded people were elected around Australia in the 2022 federal election. They are truly independent but what they have in common is that they are honest, they are progressive, they want serious action on emissions and they truly care about the communities that they represent in parliament and the future of our shared planet.
This page will add a local (electoral division of Canning) and personal perspective to the CIP work. The present member of parliament for Canning, Andrew Hastie, is in my opinion, despicable. I have written about how he motivated me to write this page below, and I've written a detailed page dedicated to his dishonesty and unethical behaviour elsewhere on this site. I wrote a couple of Internet pages that tended in the same direction as the CIP movement years ago:
A list of the present community independents...In alphabetical order the present community independents in the (federal) House of Representatives, and their electorates, are:
And then there's Andrew Wilkie, independent member for Clark in Tasmania.
and a little about them...The community independents have already made parliament a better place and they have started making their communities, Australia and the world a better place too. They have been very active in putting forward bills, positively amending bills, and spreading the word and hope of a better future for Australia's environment and all Australians.
Bellow is a short summary of what the individual community independents have said about themselves on their Web sites...
Some notes on the individual independentsKate Chaney, Curtin, WA
Kate states on her Web page: "As an independent community representative, I am here to represent the values and priorities of Curtin in Canberra, listen to my constituents and drive positive change. I will honour the trust you have placed in me and represent my community with strength and integrity."As the only community independent in my state, WA, and the person who took Curtin away from its previous climate change denying incumbent, Celia Hammond, Kate has particular relevance to my interests. Before Kate took Curtin it was considered to be a safe Liberal seat.
I have heard Kate speak in person twice and was very impressed with what she said and how well she expressed herself. She is plainly, like me, very concerned about climate change and wants to do as much as she can to reduce emissions.
Zoe Daniel, Goldstein, Victoria
In her inaugural speech to parliament Zoe made several key points:
Helen Haines, Indi, Victoria
Helen has shown that independents can deliver for their electorates. Quoting from her Web page: "Since I was elected in 2019, Indi has won 40 per cent of all new mobile phone towers in Victoria under the federal Mobile Black Spot Program. That makes us the most successful in the state. Dr Monique Ryan, Kooyong, Victoria
Dr Sophie Scamps, Mackellar, NSW
She lists her policy priorities as:
Rebekha Sharkie, Mayo, SA
Quoting from Rebekha's Web site: "Just some of the issues Rebekha champions in the Parliament include aged care reform, climate action, regional housing, employment and infrastructure, political donation reform, gambling reform and of course honesty, integrity and accountability in politics."Rebekha's success in representing the electorate of Mayo is particularly pleasing to me because it includes the Adelaide Hills where I lived during my first 23 years. Allegra Spender, Wentworth, NSW
She lists her policies as:
Zali Steggall, Warringah
"It’s time for Australia to prosper from our natural advantages – from clean energy resources to ‘can do’ people and smart tech – with a policy platform that sets up our economy and local business for success." Andrew WilkieIn the photo on the right Andrew Wilkie, another independent politician I greatly admire, is standing behind Zali. Mr Wilkie is apparently not usually classed as a community independent, I don't know why. Certainly he has done a lot to restore integrity to politics.Kylea Tink, North Sydney, NSW
Kylea says on her Web site "Based on community surveys, your feedback, and hundreds of conversations with people right across our electorate, I am pushing for progress on five key policy areas." She lists them as:
David Pocock, Senate
He lists his commitment as:
What motivated me to write this page?As I wrote in the Introduction I have long advocated for more independent politicians in Australian parliaments, both state and federal.But what triggered me to write this page was the highly dishonest scare campaign that Andrew Hastie ran against the proposed Bunbury offshore wind farm zone near my home. Mr Hastie is the Liberal Member of the federal House of Representatives for the electorate that I live in, Canning. The proposed wind farm zone will border the southern part of the Canning electorate, and is about 40km from my home. The burning of fossil fuels is widely recognised as the main cause of climate change, ocean acidification, sea level rise and ocean warming. The air pollution from the burning of fossil fuels kills millions of people world-wide each year. Action to reduce the burning of fossil fuels is urgently needed. People like Andrew Hastie are standing in the way. Even longer than I have advocated for more independent parliamentarians I have pressed for the replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy, especially wind power. If the Bunbury wind farm zone goes ahead and is fully populated with the suggested 20GW of wind power it will result in a reduction of millions of tonnes of greenhouse carbon dioxide going into the atmosphere annually.
What's in it for me?What do I have to gain by getting Mr Hastie, the current member of federal parliament for Canning, replaced by an honest, progressive representative?I am 78 years old. In the last 50 years I've tried to make this world that we all share a little bit better place. The list below is just to give readers an idea of my activities, and why I'm opposing Mr Hastie, his lies and dishonesty:
If, in my last years, I could take part in a movement that will replace a lying, fossil-fuel obsessed, renewable energy opposing politician with an honest progressive community independent who will work to reduce Australia's greenhouse emissions it would nicely cap off my declining years. |
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References and related pagesExternal sites...Community Independents Project; you could think of this as a sort of a parent body for all existing and aspiring community independent politicians who are truly wanting better outcomes for their communities. "Greener, fairer, prosperous, alive with opportunities for all."Climate 200; an organisation that backs community independent candidates who are serious about climate, integrity, gender-equality and the tone of debate in Parliament. Climate change indicators reached record levels in 2023: World Meteorological Organization Climate change impacts; The Australian Museum. This extensive article goes into impacts on: heat, fire, drought, extreme weather events, sea level rise, coral reefs, biodiversity, communities and human health. Electoral Commission map of the electorate of Canning Proposed Offshore Wind Area: Indian Ocean off Bunbury, Western Australia, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (Federal Government) The future will be green or black; an essay by David B Lauterwasser (the future will be black if people like Andrew Hastie make the important decisions).
Voices groups...The people of several federal electorates has started 'voices' pages to raise interest and support for better parliamentary representation
Voices for Forest: "We are a community group from the SW of WA. Our aim is: ensure that the entire Forrest community is heard and understood by the next representative.
Our values are our guiding principles: Community, Environment, Respect, Integrity, Positivity and Sustainability."
Voices of Bradfield, NSW
Voices of Farrer, NSW
Voices of Wannon, Victoria Proposed offshore wind farms for the Mandurah/Bunbury zoneOceanex Energy; Bunbury Offshore Wind Farm. About 130 turbines each of 15MW, total 2GWCopenhagen Energy; Leeuwin Offshore Wind. Up to 200 turbines, each 15-25MW, a total of 3-5GW, 15-70km off the coast from Binningup Skyborn Renewable; Myalup Offshore Windfarm. About 107 turbines each of 15MW, total 1.6GW. This was originally proposed for WA state waters, about 5.5km off the coast, but it seems that it is now to go into Commonwealth waters 20km or more off the coast.
Note that the total for these proposals is around 7 or 8 gigawatts. The zone is aimed at up to 20GW. I would expect the details of these proposals to change with time, as the zone's specifics are developed.
Related Web pages on this site...Politician's responsibilities; many polies are shirking their responsibilitiesAndrew Hastie; we can do better in Canning A confederation of independent politicians and candidates; this page, written in 2006, was my dream of something like the Community Independents Project. It didn't have much impact, but perhaps it sowed a seed in a few minds. Climate change in the international context and in an Australian context. The Liberals don't want sustainable energy and oppose climate change action Killer coal; burning the coal kills millions of people world-wide each year through air pollution; To oppose wind power is to support the (killer) fossil fuel industries What about nuclear? The Liberals, in their irresponsible opposition to sustainable energy, are pushing nuclear power as well as fossil fuels. A big nuclear power station couldn't be built in Australia in less than 20 years and the 'small modular nuclear reactor' power stations that Mr Dutton is keen on are still in the developmental stage. And nuclear power would be far more expensive than wind or solar power. Offshore wind farms in general Western Australia's offshore wind farm zone; the progressive proposal that, if fully developed, will displace millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually Environment; a community independent will look after our shared environment Ethics; a community independent will have high ethical standards Intentional ignorance; is this what Mr Hastie is suffering from? Wind power in Australia; a great step toward a sustainable future Why I support the local wind farm (and why all decent people should too)
Wind power lies and liars |
