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Byron Shire
March 28, 2024

Paul Spooner, ALP Ballina candidate

Latest News

Govt cost-shifting ‘erodes financially sustainable local government’

Byron Shire Council looks set to add its voice to the growing chorus calling on the state government to stop shifting responsibilities and costs onto local government.

Other News

It’s a biggest little town festival! 

Supporters, performers, and volunteers gathered to launch the Mullum Laneways Festival 2024 last Friday. 

Wild dog breeding season can increase attacks on domestic dogs

Local Land Services are reminding landowners to be aware of wild dogs as they have received five reports of domestic dogs being attacked and killed by wild dogs in the last two months.

Byron Council staff baulk at councillors’ promise of free parking for locals

Will Byron Council deliver on its pledge to make parking permits free for locals across the Shire when paid parking comes into force in Brunswick Heads?

Seize the Decade report outlines benefits of renewables

The Climate Council says many more Australian families can directly benefit from rooftop solar and batteries under a new plan that spells out how we can electrify the nation and cut climate pollution this decade.

Got a creative theatre idea?

Mullumbimby’s The Drill Hall Theatre Company (DHTC) is offering two creative development opportunities for local independent artists to develop new performance piece concepts.

Superbowls

Superbowls is your go-to spot for a burst of woodfired flavour! Nestled in Byron Arts and Industry Estate, the...

ALP candidate for Ballina, Paul Spooner.
ALP candidate for Ballina, Paul Spooner.

In my role as the general manager of Byron Community Centre I have worked with those most vulnerable in our community. I want to be your representative in state Parliament so I can be an effective voice for our community. For too long we have sent representatives to Sydney that have not been able to improve services in our community. I was preselected by over 2000 local residents in the 2014 Ballina Labor community preselection and have had an open discussion with the entire Ballina electorate about what issues and concerns are important to them since I put my hand up to run. As a local councillor, I have the experience to know what it takes to represent people in government and get things done.

Top 3 issues

Schools and hospitals – Schools and hospitals across our electorate are the most vital services for the local community. Labor has committed $7.3 million for upgrading Ballina District Hospital operating theatres and emergency department. We also committed to ensuring the Byron Central Hospital will be built and it will be a public hospital with public surgical services. The Nationals want to privatise health services in Byron Bay. Only Labor will provide a fully public hospital. I will also fight for demountables to be replaced at Byron Bay Public School and schools across the electorate because our children should be educated in first class facilities, not 10+ year-old demountables.

Stopping the privatisation of our electricity assets – The Nationals want to privatise our electricity network to fund roads and rail in Sydney. Labor will not sell the state’s electricity network, which last year earnt $1.7 billion for the state government – money that funds teachers, nurses, doctors and police. The only way to stop our electricity network being privatised is to vote Labor.

A ban on CSG across the north coast – Labor will ban harmful Coal Seam Gas mining in the seven shires from the Queensland border to the Clarence Valley. Labor will impose a state-wide moratorium on CSG until the entirety of the Chief Scientist’s recommendations are implemented. On top of that, we recognise that the north coast’s agricultural, world heritage and tourism benefits far outweigh the benefits of CSG, so Labor will have a permanent ban on CSG mining on the north coast.

The first local issue I will campaign on

Labor, if elected to Government on March 28, will reverse the approval given by Planning Minister Pru Goward for the controversial West Byron development and hand any future approval process to Byron Shire Council.

As the Labor Candidate for Ballina I have committed that if Labor wins government on March 28, the West Byron development approval will be reversed and handed back to Byron Shire Council.

 


All NSW Election 2015 Articles

More NSW Election 2015 news and articles


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Saddle Road group home DA decision this week

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