Bernard Rooney chosen as Greens candidate for Drummoyne

City of Canada Bay Councillor Bernard Rooney has been chosen as the Greens candidate for the Electorate of Drummoyne in the NSW State Election due to be held in March 2007.

“Drummoyne needs a Member who is a strong supporter of the local community”, said Mr Rooney. “The sitting Member, Ms Angela D’Amore, is finding herself too closely aligned with the State Government at the expense of this community. As just the latest example, the State Government has halved the bus service to Abbotsford at the same time as we have been urging that bus services to Concord and Rhodes through the area be increased. She and the RTA have also proposed changes to Lyons Rd/Victoria Rd that would sharply disadvantage East Drummoyne residents.”

“Drummoyne has a number of issues where a pro-active Member on behalf of the Community is needed”, said Mr Rooney:

• Homebush Bay dioxin cleanup. In a recent scandal, it has been found that dioxin has contaminated the whole Harbour and destroyed both commercial and recreational fishing. There are calls therefore for a more thorough cleanup of Homebush Bay, the principal source of the poison.
• Public transport. The State Government is cutting bus services and proposing to privatize Sydney Ferries, when, on the contrary, public transport in times of peak oil needs to be increased.
• M4 East – the State Government has been afflicted with Motorway Madness for many years. Again, public transport, including a light rail service through the Inner West, is the answer.
• Overdevelopment – radical new legislation passed by the State Government has stripped local communities of control and centralised powers in the hands of the Planning Minister (Mr Sartor). Inevitably, this has led to decisions in favour of the development sector at the expense of the local community. Breakfast Point is a prime example. These powers need to be returned so that the community can once again control the pace and scope of development. The State Government should instead focus on providing the essential infrastructure.

Dr John Kaye, Greens candidate for the Upper House in the 2007 Election, was present at Mr Rooney’s confirmation. “Drummoyne need Bernard Rooney to be elected”, said Dr Kaye, “and the State needs more Greens in the Parliament. We hope to win the balance of power in the Upper House, and in the Lower House.”

“Global Warming is the biggest issue of our time”, said Dr Kaye, “and leadership on this issue must come from the community – politicians will not lead.”

“Another issue for this campaign is that of dodgy government. We have a State Government which is too close to the development sector and Macquarie Bank,a system where developer donations to political parties is entrenched. Government should return to focusing on the public interest”, said Dr Kaye.

“A third issue is Services and the Budget. A ‘deficit of services’ balanced the budget. Government needs to deliver services.”

“Fourthly, legal rights and civil liberties have been compromised in a law and order auction”, said Dr Kaye. “An alternative is needed: we have generations of entrenched poverty in some sectors of the State. Restoring civil rights and addressing the causes is a better approach.”

For more information, contact Bernard Rooney on 0414 695 323 or John Kaye on 0407 195 455 or john@nsw.greens.org.au