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PAGE held its State Election candidates forum in Eumundi on Saturday with the largest audience of any candidates’ events to date in this election. The candidates on the panel were Steve Haines (Grn, Noosa), Cate Molloy (Ind, Noosa), Steve Morrison (LNP, Nicklin), Brian Stockwell (Lab, Noosa) and Peter Wellington (Ind, Nicklin).

The candidates were asked 5 questions relating to the Powerlink 275,000V power line project. Before the meeting the candidates were provided with the 5 questions, background briefing notes and clearly told that “The questions are asked of you as candidates and as representatives of the parties that you are standing for (if applicable) and your answers will be taken as being the policy that you or your party will implement in the next Parliament either in Government or if holding the balance of power, should this eventuate.”  The questions asked were:

Will you:

• Adopt a policy which mandates sustainable energy development before new network infrastructure?
• Adopt a policy which changes the ALA ’67 to compensate indirectly affected landowners and give landowners the right to sell their properties at fair value?
• Adopt the alternatives proposed to meet the N. Sunshine Coast’s energy needs – renewable energy & demand management?
• Adopt a policy which prevents the conflict of interest between developers and their paid environmental consultants?
• Oppose the construction of the proposed Woolooga to Cooroy transmission line and sub-station?

The audience scored by a show of hands whether the candidates answered positively, answered negatively or did not answer the question directly by waffling. The candidate’s scorecard is shown below.

Graham Smith, PAGE Coordinator said after the forum that “it was useful for the community to see where the candidates stand on this key issue for the Sunshine Coast and any sustainable future that it has. It was important to have candidates from both Noosa and Nicklin as this State Government proposal does not stop at Eumundi, but also impacts Noosa and the Biosphere.

The second half of the forum was open for the community to ask any questions of the candidates at the meeting. Complementing the panel for this half of the forum were Gary Claridge (Grn, Nicklin), Glen Elmes (LNP, Noosa) and Kent Hutton (Grn, Gympie). Questions ranged from Traveston Dam, renewable energy feed-in tariffs, unsustainable population growth as well as many more questions on the powerline proposal and the alternatives. Other community groups represented at the forum were the Sunshine Coast Environment Council, Noosa Parks Association, Save the Mary River and OSCAR.

PAGE Coordinator, Graham Smith said “This is a key election for Queensland and especially the Sunshine Coast. Last May’s council elections clearly demonstrated that the community wants a new sustainable approach to energy, water and transport. It is only for four weeks in every three years that the Government actually listens to voters and everyone should use this election as an opportunity to make your voice get heard.”

What: PAGE – Queensland Election Candidates Forum.
Where: CWA Hall, Eumundi
Date / Time: 4:30pm – 6:30pm on Saturday 14 March 2009

PAGE's state election candidate forum results