Press Release: Greens Candidates Unveil Vision for Wodonga

Well, we’re off and running. Dennis and I sent out our first media release. So far it’s been picked up by 2AY, Prime Local News and Star FM. The text is over the fold.

Greens Candidates Unveil Vision for Wodonga

The Australian Greens have endorsed two candidates for November’s council elections in Wodonga. On Friday October the 10th Dr Dennis Black and Mr Kieran Bennett will launch their campaign and reveal their vision for the future of Wodonga.

Dr Dennis Black is an entomologist and lecturer at Latrobe Universities School of Environmental Management and Ecology. A committed environmentalist and social justice campaigner, Dr Black is known for his work with the Albury Wodonga Environment Centre, local sustainability groups and social justice campaigns such as the 2003 anti-war campaign.

Kieran Bennett is a well known commentator on local affairs. Mr Bennett is also a committed social justice and environmental sustainability campaigner. He completed his schooling in Wodonga before heading to Canberra’s ANU to study politics and sociology. Kieran returned to the city of Wodonga to care for an aging parent, and also works at Latrobe Univeristy as a notetaker.

The Greens plan embraces social justice, secures Wodonga against the threat of water shortage, tackles climate change, and promotes greater local government democracy.

“Federal and state governments have failed to take adequate action on climate change, it is time for local councils to take the lead” Dr Black said.

“We have a plan to reduce our town’s environmental impact, whilst saving money and securing our water supply. We want council to support and work with a community driven effort to install solar panels, solar hotwater, grey water recycling and water tanks across the city of Wodonga” said Mr Bennett.

“Council can organize the buying power for Wodonga residents to get a better deal on equipment that will help us address climate change. We also want to see council promote developments that incorporate these installations as standard” said Dr Black.

“None of this can be achieved with top down prescriptive decisions from our local council” Mr Bennett said, “We want to see a council that brings the whole community together in the decision making process. We want to see greater democracy, greater openness, and greater community collaboration”.

“We want a council that: embraces community led democracy, secures us against the threat of climate change, and provides the best possible services to Wodonga residents” said Mr Bennett.

“Over the next month we will be bringing our vision to the people of Wodonga. Irrespective of the election outcome, we will build community awareness that a healthy environment is crucial to the prosperity of our community. We can’t tackle climate change without just and democratic community leadership” said Mr Black.

CONTACT:
Kieran Bennett and Dennis Black are available to discuss any aspect of our plan for Wodonga, or our candidacy in general, at a time and place of your convenience on Friday the 10th of October. Please do not hesitate to contact:

Kieran Bennett
ph: 0430509913
kieranbennett@gmail.com