Candidate round up for the seat of Tweed
It is that time again – to make your choice of candidates to represent you and your vision of the future in government.
As this Saturday’s voting day (March 23) draws ever closer it’s important to remember that your votes count, and you need to know who you’re voting for – then it will all be over and we wait to see what fate and vote and given us.
The seat of Tweed is one of three marginal seats (only a few votes can make the difference as to who wins) in the Northern Rivers. The three leading candidates are The Greens Bill Fenelon, Country Labor’s Craig Elliot and The Nationals sitting member MP Geoff Provest.
Who wins this seat is likely to come down to how you the voter preferences. That is who you put second, third or fourth etc on your ticket. Make sure you preference putting the parties you don’t want to get elected in the last positions. Find out more in our article Will you be throwing your vote in the bin?
Five candidates will contest the seat of Tweed with all of the major parties represented as well as some of the smaller groups.
In order of appearance (on the ballot)…
Country Labor Craig Elliot
Craig Elliot is the husband of federal member for Richmond Justine Elliot who are both former members of the police force.
Mr Elliot states on his website that Labor will build a high school at Pottsville, put downward pressure on electricity prices and push back against overdevelopment.
‘Restoring local frontline services including more police, nurses and teachers,’ is another focus for Labor he says.
Position on new Tweed Valley Hospital site
Country Labor has taken the position of moving the site for the new Tweed Valley Hospital to the yet-to-be-built Kings Forest site. There have been accusations from The Nationals that they are supporting their ‘developer mates’ rather than considering the best position for the site.
The King Forest development will impact on local koala habitat.
Animal Justice Party Susie Hearder
The key platform for Susie Hearder is to advocate for animals involved in ‘Puppy factories, pounds, pet shops, animal experimentation/medical research, those used in sport and entertainment and intensive animal agriculture.’
More broadly she supports an end to logging in native forests and mandatory koala protection. Sustainable industries. Stronger legal protection for marine an fresh water environments, animals and ecosystems. Greater recognition of Indigenous culture .
Position on new Tweed Valley Hospital site
‘I would like the hospital to be expanded and rebuilt in it’s current location where the population hub is and where people have already purchased homes to be in close proximity to a hospital.
‘We should be saving our State Significant Farmland for food security and we need fresh food to keep us out of hospital. I don’t agree with putting it at Kings Forest either as it is koala habitat and our endangered koalas are under enough pressure as it is. Both these options will also see our unique coastal villages paved in concrete and turned into another Gold Coast. Let’s keep our beautiful Tweed Coast the way we like it and keep the hospital in Tweed where it is needed and originally planned for.’
The Nationals Geoff Provest
Geoff Provest is the sitting Nationals member for Tweed and states on his website that he is a strong champion of local issues including the Pacific Highway and gaining higher police numbers.
Position on new Tweed Valley Hospital site
Mr Protest has actively supported the current site for the new Tweed Valley Hospital at Cudgen near Kingscliff. The siting of the hospital here has led to significant objections from the local community who have felt that their objections have gone unheard.
Like Labor’s position on siting the new hospital at King Forest the National/Liberal support for the Cudgen site has led to accusations that they are supporting their ‘developer mates’ rather than considering the best position for the site.
Sustainable Australia Ronald McDonald
Sustainable Australia are opposed to overdevelopment and support better planning and handing back power to local communities.
They believe the fact that the state government can step in and take over planning consent for any development over $5m at their discretion under the State Significant development legislation should be reversed.
Position on new Tweed Valley Hospital site
‘I believe the present site for the new Tweed Valley Hospital is unacceptable and would spell the end of the Cudgen plateau as a productive area. Furthermore, a building of this height would be the Trojan horse to break the Kingscliff’s three storey height limit.
‘It is one of our major policy this election to fight for better planning to stop over development and to return real planning power to local communities. Our local issues of Tweed Valley Hospital is a classic example of government not listening to local communities and that is why I support the relocation of Tweed Valley hospital to a more appropriate site.’
The Greens Bill Fenelon
Bill Fenelon is a master mariner who is a long-time Tweed local who is keen to protect the environment and has been actively seeking the end to water mining industry in the region.
He supports the extension of trains from Tweed to the Gold Coast airport and ‘the creation of rail-trail cycleways’.
Position on new Tweed Valley Hospital site
The Greens support the new Tweed Valley Hospital being moved from the State Significant Farmland site at Cudgen, that was selected under the current Liberal/National state government, to protect prime farmland and the character of Kingscliff.
Seat of Tweed
If you’re not sure which seat you are in take a look at the map below. If you think you might be in the Lismore or Ballina electorate then head to our candidate profiles and maps on these electorates. For Lismore click here and Ballina click here.
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