Local Election 2020 – Meet the Candidates Forum

Brisbane City Council – Mayoral Candidates

Patrick Condren
Current Home Suburb: Grange
Party affiliation or other: Australian Labor Party (Queensland Branch)
Current occupation: Former journalist, current candidate for Lord Mayor
Background: With more than 30 years’ experience as a broadcaster and journalist, Pat’s talents as a communicator saw him win a Walkley award, one of the highest honours in journalism. For 17 years from 2002 Pat was the state political editor for 7News Brisbane and was a regular contributor to 7’s Sunrise program. He also read the news for 8 years during this time.
What are your three top priorities for your Electorate?: My vision for the future is about all of Brisbane, not just the inner-suburbs. I want to reinvest in our outer-suburbs and get away from the wasteful and delay-ridden vanity projects of this LNP administration. I want to bring new energy to Brisbane. I will reinvigorate our suburban shopping centres, lower your rates, fix your footpaths and bust congestion through protected cycle lanes and public transit.
How will you address and deliver these Locally?: Pat will end Adrian Schrinner’s personal $100k slush fund, and will stop the waste of ratepayer’s money on political advertising – which costs $4 million every year. By focusing on Brisbane’s suburbs instead of themselves, a Labor Brisbane City Council will be able to fix neglected local parks, potholes and footpaths that have been forgotten by the LNP.

Seat of Enoggera – Councillor Candidates

Ell-Leigh Ackerman
Current Home Suburb: Enoggera
Party affiliation or other: The Greens
Current occupation: Office Manager
Background: I’m an office manager, rescued-greyhound companion and a renter. I have a Bachelor of Theatre Studies from USQ, and I have worked in management, retail and as an after-school drama teacher. Like many of you, I understand the unique challenges facing tenants living in our inner suburbs. I am passionate about community building, social justice and knitting.
What are your three top priorities for your Electorate?: The Greens have committed to a broad policy platform applicable to all BCC wards, but the priorities I feel most speak to the Enoggera ward are:

• Better and more affordable Public Transport – by introducing free off-peak bus and ferry trips for everyone and dedicated peak-hour bus lanes;
• Increased Pedestrian Safety – by delivering 1000 new safe pedestrian crossing throughout Brisbane over the next council term;
• Doubling funding for festivals, events and cultural organisations – increasing connection and growing a stronger, more vibrant community.

How will you address and deliver these Locally?: I want to see the needs of the many, not the few, come first. We know we can afford these community-first measures as we cost all our policies – more of our initiatives and how we plan to deliver them can be found on our website abetterbrisbane.com

Jonty Bush (Ph: 0431 473 658)
Party affiliation or other: Australian Labor Party Queensland
Background: Enoggera residents deserve a councillor that will be an active voice to make our community better place to live and work.
For the past decade, following the homicides of her father and nineteen-year-old sister, Jonty has advocated for the rights of victims of violent crime.
In 2009, she was recognised nationally as the Young Australian of the Year, when she developed Queensland’s One Punch Can Kill campaign.
Jonty is a mum and step-mother to four beautiful daughters, with her partner runs a small business. Jonty is weekly, barefoot runner in our local Parkrun.
What are your three top priorities for your Electorate?:  Jonty is committed to putting residents first by stopping bad development, protecting our greenspaces and investing in our roads and public transport so families can travel to and from work quicker.

Kristin Perissinotto (Ph: 0401 823 364)
Current Home Suburb: Alderley
Party affiliation or other: Independent
Current occupation: Communications Officer
Background: Kristin holds a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Queensland, and has worked in Communications in the not-for-profit sector since entering the work force. She is passionate about education, environmental sustainability, and creating change in her local community. Kristin has experience speaking and running workshops in local schools, working with people who are experts in their field to create meaningful change, and is a member of the Australian Conservation Foundation.
What are your three top priorities for your Electorate?: Advocating for local businesses by supporting buying Brisbane first, Queensland second, and Australia third
Ensuring a network of safe and accessible footpaths that can be used by all
Implementing environmentally sustainable practices in Enoggera
How will you address and deliver these Locally?:
By working with the local community, businesses, and experts, as well as local, state and federal bodies to:

• Hold more markets where businesses can sell local goods;
• Protect and local businesses over large corporations;
• Build and repair footpaths;
• Increase and improve drop off zones for recycling, ensuring they are accessible to all; and
• Create programs and networks that promote reusing, recycling, and upcycling within the community.

Moreton Bay Regional Council – Mayoral Candidates

Peter Flannery (Ph: 0466 773 837)
Current Home Suburb: Morayfield
Party affiliation or other: Not a member of a political Party
Current occupation: Councillor for Division 2 MBRC
Background: I commenced my career in Local Government as a Council Officer firstly with Brisbane City Council and then Caboolture Shire Council. I was first elected in 2004 as the Divisional Councillor with the former Caboolture Shire Council. I was then elected as the Divisional 2 Councillor for Moreton Bay Regional Council in 2012 and was re-elected in 2016. I have been a resident of the Moreton Bay Region since 1994 and currently reside in Morayfield with my wife Annemarie and two of our children.
What are your three top priorities for your Electorate?: Review of the Regional Planning Scheme with the introduction of Local Neighbourhood Plans to address the local issues being faced by residents.
I want to ensure the established suburbs are not forgotten and are getting their fair share of upgraded infrastructure. I would be seeking support to focus on these areas across the region to ensure we are all enjoying great infrastructure and improved liveability of our region.
Council needs to attract new business and innovation to the wider region and have a renewed focus on improved support for existing business across our region in conjunction with Regional Development Australia.

Eric Shields

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Chris Thompson (Ph: 0488 154 022)
Current Home Suburb: Warner
Party affiliation or other: Independent
Current occupation: Project Manager and experienced company Director and Independent Chair
Background: Lived in Warner for the past 27 Years; Married to Karin for 32 years; Long history of service to community; Three adult children
What are your three top priorities for your Electorate?: Clean up Council
Mend the broken culture – internally and externally
Stop Council doing silly things
How will you address and deliver these Locally?: Lead by example

MBRC – Division 10 – Councillor Candidates

Matt Constance
Current Home Suburb: Everton Hills
Party affiliation or other: Independent
Current occupation: Councillor – Division 10 – Moreton Bay Regional Council
Background: Matt Constance has been a Division 10 resident for over 25 years. He and his wife have raised their children here and currently live in Everton Hills.
Matt was first elected to council in 2016, with prior experience in IT, Transport Logistics, Emergency Management.
He was Chairperson for Lifestyle and Amenity, before becoming Chairperson of Corporate Services.
Matt is also holds the role of Chairperson of the Audit Community, Deputy Chair of the Moreton Bay Disaster Management Group, and is Chair of the Recovery Group. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
What are your three top priorities for your Electorate?: Support and Improve our local services Including PCYC, Libraries, Pools, SES and future facility planning and upgrades.
Get the basics right, so we can build a stronger community and more transparent council.
Support active lifestyles and greenspaces, for families, children, seniors and those with disabilities with further park improvements and building the missing links in our active transport network.
How will you address and deliver these Locally?: To deliver future projects like the 303 Dawson Pde redevelopment we need a strong connection between community and council.
Regular community catch up sessions will continue and I will continue to push for improved and more contemporary governance practices in council.
Our region also needs to redevelop and refine its planning scheme to meet the next two decades of growth challenges whilst carefully balancing community needs.
Listening is important but so is communicating.