The Greens candidate for Gilmore believes climate change, biodiversity, refugees and asylum seekers are among the key issues for voters within the Kiama municipality.
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The Greens pre-selected Carmel McCallum as their candidate for the seat of Gilmore in September.
Mrs McCallum will stand at the July 2 federal election.
Cambewarra resident Mrs McCallum, 60, is a pharmacist and has been a Greens member since 2004, when she joined to support Andrew Wilkie in the Sydney seat of Bennelong.
Her husband Howard served in the Navy as a helicopter pilot and they have four children.
In 2007 and 2010, she was the Greens candidate for the federal seat of Macquarie, and was campaign manager in 2011 for the state seat of Blue Mountains.
“This is the most important election in my lifetime, with many of the wonderful things we take for granted, which have been built up over decades now being undermined or diminished,” she said.
“Our democracy is being threatened by a government that is portraying us as intolerant and unkind, always resorting to unreasonable treatment of those who are least able to defend themselves.
“There is a lack of honesty and transparency which exceeds any previous federal government.
“I see living on the beautiful South Coast as a privilege.
“Seeing what’s happening in other parts of the country, where environmental protection is being sacrificed for short-term greed and permanent destruction is one of my greatest motivations.”
Mrs McCallum said climate change was a key issue within the Kiama municipality.
“That’s really obvious because of the long coastline…Of course coastal erosion, the rising sea levels, these are all going to be huge issues in the future and we’re not really doing enough about it as long as we keep digging fossil fuels and using them,” she said.
“It’s surprising, even people who have been Liberal voters are really disenchanted with the approach to climate change, and the lack of initiative on alternative energy.”
She said environment and protecting biodiversity was vital.
“Probably the main reason Kiama residents were so concerned about stopping the (council) amalgamation is that locals really value their natural surroundings.
“They love to gaze at the ocean, the bays and inlets without giant marinas, the ever-changing mountains and valleys in the west.
“They want to preserve the proximity and inherent value of the highly productive, and this could be greater, agricultural land, knowing that with climate change, this will increase in value and relevance.
“It was the Greens, among others, who fought to save the stretch between Gerringong and Gerroa, and this should be policy indefinitely.”
Mrs McCallum said she believed the main issue which separates the Greens from the two major parties is refugees and asylum seekers.
“Many people in Kiama have concerns about this,” she said.
“Also, with an older population, the budget proposal to remove of $54 billion from health will surely affect Kiama residents.”
The federal seat of Gilmore is held by Liberal Ann Sudmalis on a thin margin of 2.65 per cent.
“If you’re disenchanted with your major party and you’re not already a Greens voter, you can always vote ‘one’ Greens, and then vote for the party that you prefer,” Mrs McCallum said.
“That sends a strong message that you’re not happy with their policies, and they need to listen.”