Media Releases

Greens Sandra Bayley Aces Candidates Forum

Greens Ryan candidate Dr Sandra Bayley scored 81%, ahead of the second-best candidate on 57%, according to audience ratings of speakers at the GetUp/ACF/WWF forum on 12 August 2010.

Says Dr Bayley, “Only the Greens went into this election with coherent evidence-based policies on climate change, and with a strong commitment to public transport and fairness to asylum seekers.

“Only the Greens have emphasised from the start that asylum seekers are not a significant component of the population debate, and that we need to develop an evidence-based approach to population, based on the best available science.

“I am pleased that I was able to articulate this to the audience.”

In the last week of the campaign, there is another forum hosted by Transition Town Kenmore (18 August, Kenmore Uniting Church Hall, 982 Moggill Road, Kenmore, 7:30 pm).

With unprecedented interest in the Ryan campaign, the Greens are the only campaign to have participated in every event that was open to all candidates, a total of seven to date.

More Detail
Full text of Dr Bayley’s 12 August speech (as well as other speeches) and audience score card: http://www.greens4ryan.org/p/speeches.html
More detail on the campaign: http://greens.org.au/ryan
Kenmore 18 August forum: http://transitionkenmoredistrict.blogspot.com/2010/08/ryan-election-forum-aug-18th-hosted-by.html

Contact
Campaign manager: Philip Machanick 042-234-6909 philip.machanick@gmail.com



AUSTRALIAN GREENS
Greens candidate in Ryan a strong voice on climate change
2 August 2010

The Australian Greens today launch their campaign in Ryan with Lead Senatecandidate Larissa Waters visiting the electorate to support Ryan candidate Dr Sandra Bayley.

A recent WWF poll put the Green vote at 17% in Ryan.

Sandra Bayley, who is a local GP in Brisbane, said the health impacts of climate change were central to her campaign. “These health effects are under the radar, but Lancet reports that climate change is the biggest health threat of the 21st century,” Dr Bayley said.

“Climate change threatens increased heat-related disease via food, water and insect-borne disease as well as causing physical and emotional trauma from extreme weather events.

“Coal, the main driver of climate change, is also a major health hazard. Coal pollutants damage body organs and contribute to leading causes of death such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer and lung disease.

“The people of Ryan are expressing concern that the old parties are not moving urgently to take action on the climate crisis.”

Dr Bayley has a strong record of achievements on climate change including:
  • founding a sustainability group in her suburb called St John’s Wood
    Sustainability to motivate neighbours to embrace sustainable living;
  • mentoring neighbouring suburbs to set up similar groups;
  • speaking to community groups and rallies on the climate emergency;
  • volunteering for long term wildlife rehabilitation.
“Ryan traditionally performs well for the Greens and we hope we will have our best result ever,” said Dr Bayley.

Environmental lawyer Larissa Waters, widely tipped to become the first Greens Senator for Queensland, said the Greens offered a clear vision. “Our team offers voters a carbon tax on polluters; bringing home Australia’s troops from Afghanistan; a universal dental care scheme; and humane treatment of asylum seekers in Australia.”

Ms Waters and Dr Bayley will launch the Australian Greens’ Ryan campaign at Brookside Shopping Centre at midday today.

CONTACT: Larissa Waters OR Sandra Bayley
greens.org.au



25 May 2010: Queensland Greens announce candidate for Ryan

Dr Sandra Bayley has been preselected as the Greens candidate for Ryan. She is a local GP and lives in the electorate in Ashgrove. She is very active in the sustainability movement, but has not been a member of a political party until she joined the Greens shortly before her preselection. Explaining her decision to run, Dr Bayley says: “I’m very concerned that Australia is bypassing the critical issues of accelerating climate disturbance as well as commitment to peace and justice. It is the Greens who have insightful policies for our future well-being. Where is the wisdom of having an economy that violates the environment that is our lifeblood?”

Green local spokesperson, Dr Philip Machanick adds: “The fact that Ryan has become so marginal makes this an exciting campaign for the Greens, because no candidate can win without a credible position on our core issues. Dr Bayley is a great candidate, and we are are already experiencing unprecedented interest in our campaign.”