By Stuart Rees
In the forthcoming local government elections on December 4, voters have a clear choice: return candidates who have been around for years and are still, somehow, labelled ‘independent’, or vote for socially just, visionary policies from Greens candidates under the leadership of the charismatic, politically astute Mayor Amanda Findley.
Given allegedly corrupt, obviously destructive, bullying tactics (yes I’ve watched) of previous Shoalhaven Independent councillors, now resurrected on the Greg Watson ticket, the need for a drastic spring cleaning of Council ‘independents’ and their replacement by human rights oriented candidates is long overdue.
That message came in speeches and inspiring music at the Sanctuary Point Community Centre on November 13 when Greens candidates explained their values and policies, including commitments to affordable housing, bushfire planning, funds for roads, for waste disposal and renewable energy schemes.
Love for a unique environment, deep respect for heritage, for Indigenous citizens and for the sense of hard work coupled to civility would characterise their work as elected councillors. That was their promise.
As if that promise could be realised in a music for humanity, and for a new Shoalhaven council, singer/guitarists Brad Christmas, Peter Winkler and didgeridoo player Mark King gave us humour plus touches of inspiration in a Bob Dylan message adapted for an out-of-date, no longer needed Greg Watson and the sundry others gathered under his ‘Independent’ banner. Dylan sang to them “You ain’t going nowhere.”
With the energy and noise characteristic of US civil rights meetings which I attended in the 1960s, Amanda centred the stage flanked by all of the gutsy, articulate Greens candidates. Greens NSW MP, the tireless, selfless David Shoebridge, highlighted the significance of achieving a Greens majority council in the Shoalhaven, but he reserved his highest praise for “an amazingly brave, dignified and highly effective local leader, Mayor Amanda Findley.”
Small wonder that since David’s praise for Amanda, and at the National Cities’ Power Partnerships awards, Mayor Amanda Findley was made ‘National Climate Change Ambassador of the Year.’
That award sounds like the catalyst to encourage voters to flock to the polling booths to re-elect Amanda plus the Greens candidates needed to craft a creative, inspiring culture in the crucial work of Shoalhaven local government. December 4 is not far away.
Stuart Rees OAM is Professor Emeritus, University of Sydney, recipient of the Jerusalem (Akl Quds) Peace Prize and author of the new book “Cruelty or Humanity”. A human rights activist, poet, novelist, and Founder Director of the Sydney Peace Foundation.
Feature image: Shoalhaven Greens candidates and Mayor Amanda Findley with their dedicated supporters at the election launch in Sanctuary Point on 20 November 2021. Photo credit: Shoalhaven Greens/facebook
