Naomi's speech at the Sutherland Greens' Campaign Launch

I recently heard someone calling for action: contact the major parties, the minor parties and The Greens.  We certainly are something special!

I would like to start by thanking Lee... not just for being here today - but for being an inspiration and role model for me.  I would like to thank her for being accessible to everyone, and most importantly for all the hard work she does to protect our state.

Thank you Lee!

A big thanks to Simon and the Bankstown Greens, not just for being here, but also for working closely with me in the last few months.  It has been a lot of fun, and I’m glad you could join us today.

Thank you to David for coming a long way also - and this is a bit early, but good luck for the Federal campaign.

A lot of people have come a long way to be here today, and I hope you all had a good time getting to this beautiful location. 

Energy efficient transport is a perfectly viable option, eh?

Anyway, I would like to thank you all for showing your support by coming here this evening.

What a great team The Greens have for the upcoming State Election!  But are we ready?

Can you guess how I feel about it?

I have met a lot of The Greens’ lower house candidates, those standing in their local area - and we’re all different.  We come in different shapes and sizes, we come in different colours, different ages, different backgrounds and lifestyles.

But we are tackling very similar issues: global warming, overdevelopment, the erosion of a fair and just society, an uncertain future for the next generation in terms of the environment, the economy and social justice. 
All of us are facing a government that won’t listen and doesn’t want to be held accountable for its actions.

But still, are we ready?

I can tell you there isn’t a single Greens’ candidate who hasn’t imagined themselves giving a victory speech or walking into their own office in Parliament for the first time.  Even though, and this is a sad thing.  Even though we know it is unlikely to happen. 

But that sounds like we might not be ready, are we?

On the upside for most of us, winning the seat is not our primary motivation.  We’ll each have our own way of describing it, but what we all know, is for a democracy to work.  For a democracy to be healthy and vibrant, everyone has to participate.  Not necessarily as candidates - that would be another one of those tablecloth elections.

But by thinking about the issues.  By thinking about the future.  And by thinking about what is happening now and what we can do about it.

This park is in a safe Liberal seat.  Simon is contesting one of the safest Labor seats around.  And what does the electorate get for this dedication to their major party?
They get screwed.

Kurnell Peninsula - home to a once vibrant wetland, surrounded by a biodiverse reef, birthplace of “modern Australia”, rich in aboriginal heritage - protected?  No, it’s in a safe seat.  Kurnell destroyed by sandmining, an oil refinery, flightpaths and now desalination. 

I’m sure Simon can tell you that even when “your side” is in power, the electorate gets just as overlooked.  Bankstown area is starved for resources - because whether money is provided to the electorate or not - it will remain a ‘safe’ seat.
It is only when you vote, the average politician listens.   And this is why it is important to every Greens’ candidate that every voter has a chance to say ‘enough’. 

Greens’ candidates, smarter than the average politician.

That’s all well and good, but are we ready?

A friend recently asked me why I was not running as an independent.  I have a lot of good ideas, I’m a bit of a free spirit, and I have always had time for independents.  I understand why she asked me. 

But as a Greens’ candidate I have support.  I have the opportunity to present my ideas - and if they are good, the group makes them better.  And if they are not, well I have had a sounding board and they can be thrown out. (Not too many get thrown out though, let me assure you.)


More importantly, and I will thank Lee again because I have been inside Parliament already.  I would not have been able to see an MP’s office as an independent.  It is very reassuring to know that Lee, Ian and Sylvia are there. 

And should the political scientists, analysts and commentators have got it wrong.  If I was to get elected, and I believe in a democracy it is possible, albeit unlikely.  Then I have an experienced team behind me.  Between my dedication and The Greens’ experience and support I have no doubt that I could represent the people of Cronulla impressively.

All well and good, but what if many of us get in? Won’t the support of The Greens’ be stretched too thin?  Are we  ready?

I’d like to call up all the candidates that are here today to come and join me at the microphone.

You’ll notice we are all different.

But we can all work together.  And let me assure you, there isn’t one of us who wouldn’t sign the cheque for our schools, or police or hospitals.  In fact, while we’re signing these cheques, we’d be asking “Why isn’t this more?”

More Greens’ MPs means a better run government, a fairer, more just allocation of funds.  Openness and transparency.  Community consultation.

We will share our skills and knowledge - and the more of us that get in, the stronger The  Greens’ team will be.  So feel confident to vote for The Greens in the Lower House. 
And most importantly, vote one for The Greens in the Legislative Council - to continue Lee’s work in keeping our Parliament more accountable.

And I’ll ask one last time, are we ready for the challenge of not just the election, not just the next parliamentary cycle but well beyond into the future? 

You bet we are!

Thank you everyone!