Jim has covered a wide range of issues during the election. They include:

• Greens candidate says Noosa campaign a policy-free zone: http://www.mysunshinecoast.com.au/articles/article-display/greens-candidate-says-noosa-campaign-a-policy-free-zone,25180

• Answers to Noosa Journal’s candidate questions [not published in final edition]: http://www.mysunshinecoast.com.au/articles/article-display/noosa-journals-questions,25195

• Speech to Dying with Dignity Queensland, 21/3/2012: http://qld.greens.org.au/content/speech-dying-dignity-qld

• Development in the Junction: Greens candidate opposes transforming Noosa Junction into fast food hub
  
  
• Working Queenslanders: Noosa Greens candidate backs Queensland Council of Unions’ Charter for Working Queenslanders
  
  
  
• Palliative Care: Palliative care is one of the failures of Queensland Health under Labor.
  
  
  
• Civil Unions: Katter Party & LNP join forces to promise repeal of civil unions
  
  
  
• Seniors: Qld Greens will work to support Seniors in Noosa

• Health: Noosa Greens candidate welcomes Health Launch and Qld Noosa health services require an integrated approach: Greens
  
  
  
• Live Music: Greens candidate supports live music in Noosa
  
  
  
• Dying with dignity: Qld Greens Candidate says jail for assisted suicide is wrong solution
  

• Water: Qld Greens call for return of Noosa’s water supply assets See also:  http://qld.greens.org.au/content/return-water-assets-council

• Coal & Gas: Qld Sunshine Coast Council must oppose coal and gas exploration on the Sunshine Coast To see Jim’s comments on coal, CSG and Food security over the past 2 years see: http://widebaygreens.org/?s=coal and http://widebaygreens.org/?s=food+security

• Election: Qld: Greens ready for March election

• Council: Greens candidate Jim McDonald to attend citizenship ceremony in Noosa
  

• De-amalgamation: Qld Greens candidate says the debate on a new Noosa Council misses the most important issue See Campaign Launch speech:  http://qld.greens.org.au/content/queensland-greens-noosa-campaign-launch and http://qld.greens.org.au/content/lnp-de-amalgamation-plan-fails-noosa

• Noosa Biosphere: http://qld.greens.org.au/content/standing-noosa-biosphere-means-standing-sandy-straits-biosphere

• Noosa’s Prosperity: http://qld.greens.org.au/content/letter-noosa-chamber-commerce See Campaign Launch speech:  http://qld.greens.org.au/content/queensland-greens-noosa-campaign-launch

• In response to an independent candidate’s policy to legalise drugs: http://qld.greens.org.au/content/greens-specifically-rule-out-legalisation-drugs

• Speech to Noosa Parks Association on environmental matters: http://qld.greens.org.au/content/speech-noosa-parks-association

• My 30 second pitch to Mary-Lou Stevens “In the elevator” on ABC Coast FM:
  Noosa voters should vote for me because I am an experienced advocate with vision.
  I’ll introduce a Private Members Bill for a plebiscite so that Noosa residents can decide on de-amalgamation.
  I want a prosperous Noosa that is prepared for the new economy and for climate change, with regional food security, a Coast served by light rail and connecting to fast trains, a region with its own renewable energy sources, and jobs in clean industries.
  I’ll push to get the Noosa GPs After Hours Service put back in the hospital to take pressure off emergency services.
  I’ll oppose any exploitation of the coal reserves under the Coast.
  And I don’t owe vested interests any favours It will be the people I owe.

• 

Jim has been activiely campaigning to get some decent representation of Noosa into the parliament. More information available on the following sites:

• The Queensland Greens website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Mysunshinecoast.com.au

“My approach will be to ensure that seniors get the opportunity to participate in the social, economic and political aspects of life and to maintain their independence to whatever degree they feel able.”

He said the present percentage of residents who are 65 years or older was between 12 and 15 percent and this will grow as Baby Boomers seek out Noosa as an ideal place to retire to.

“All seniors have the right to exercise plenty of choices for a fulfilling retirement; to employ, where they wished, their skills and life experience to the benefit the whole community; and to enjoy a strong local health system.

“This is what the Greens policy means when it affirms the rights of older people to live with dignity. Most retirees do not regard their life post-work as having one foot in the grave.

“The state government must play a central role in the provision, regulation and support of aged care services integrated into an accessible community-based health system in Noosa on the basis of need and not the ability to pay. The Labor Government has  resided over an increasingly dysfunctional Queensland Health and seniors are affected.

“I will use my position in the Parliament to improve services for the elderly who are frail by improving respite services to carers, supporting existing community care programs aimed at supporting older people in their own homes, increasing the number of  places in our region for aged care and retirement living, and addressing transport issues for senior’s mobility throughout the community.

“Critical to the care services that are available is increasing funding to enhance the numbers, skills and salaries of community health nurses and workers in the aged care sector to reduce the incidence of ‘emergency’ care.

“We will also introduce legislation to provide free public transport to all Government Seniors and Government Concession card holders.

“Managing an inevitable increase to the number of retirees in Noosa will require expanding the scope of the Queensland Housing Affordability Strategy to include an emphasis on current and future demand for affordable housing.

“Our Seniors program is based upon the critical choice for seniors to live in their own homes where possible. The Greens will work to provide assistance to make renovations that will allow them to age in their own homes.

“The Greens and Independents have demonstrated in the several Parliaments in Australia and overseas that the cross bench can play a powerful role in cutting across the vested interests represented by the old parties.”

Jim McDonald, Noosa Greens Candidate, Media Release 27 February 2012

Dr McDonald said, “Ratepayers funds helped develop Noosa’s water supply and so it belongs to the community. It should never have been grabbed by the Bligh Government to be corporatised in preparation for selling off another public asset. Lake Macdonald was a Noosa Council project.

“Unity Water has done nothing but slug consumers and adopted practices that look more like a mafia operation: exhorbitant metre reading guesses and residents slugged for costs even if they are not connected to the grid are, frankly, unethical standover tactics.

“Separating Unity Water from the Council is also dysfunctional. Subsided trenches crossing Noosa’s streets remain unrepaired despite the Sunshine Coast Regional Council having just completed asphalt road repairs throughout Noosa.

“In one case, a subsided trench on Hill Street in Sunshine Beach lies unrepaired not 10 metres away from the recent round of resurfacing. The Council claims maintenance of the trenches is Unity Water’s responsibility.

“We can blame Labor for that nonsense. But what does the LNP propose? Their so-called “CanDo” policy States that Glen Elmes’ party will combine Unity Water into an even larger body, claiming it would be more efficient. What that will do is make it easier to sell it off to private enterprise and the LNP should come clean about their plans.

“Not being known for its consistency, the party that tries to tell us that the amalgamated Sunshine Coast Regional Council isn’t efficient for Noosa ratepayers argues for State centralisation of water assets developed by the Noosa Shire!

“In no case in Australia has the sale of publicly owned utilites resulted in cheaper prices for consumers whether they have been sold by Labor or Liberal/Nationals.

“Voters are entitled to straight answers from the LNP for their ultimate plans for Unity Water and other publicly-owned assets. Mr Elmes should come clean and state unambiguously that the LNP will return Noosa’s water assets to a reconstituted Noosa Council.

“The Greens are committed to retaining essential public services in public ownership to be run in the public interest.

“I will work in the Parliament for residents to get back Noosa Council control over the assets their rates paid for.”

Jim McDonald
Greens Candidate, Noosa
Media Release, 6 February 2012 

He said, “No-one should assume that the Noosa community as a whole still has the views that were evident in 2007 – 8. There is significant churn in this electorate as residents come and go. “At the moment, the activists and the other candidates hitching a ride on the de-amalgamation campaign only think they know. People I talk to are not of a single voice on the issue.

“We need to get away from the hysteria evident in the public debate. The State Government owes it to the people of Noosa and those communities willing to join in a new Noosa Council to conduct a referendum in the Noosa region when the State election is held.”

Dr McDonald said that a referendum in Noosa and communities wishing to join in on the establishment of a new Council would be a smart move for the Queensland Government. It would establish once and for all what Noosa people really want for their area.

He said that although the Independent Alliance had taken some of the party political spin out of the issue, the old party politics had hobbled the Noosa Council issue. “I’ve been listening for years now to Bob Ansett rail against Anna Bligh. When Friends of Noosa threw their lot behind Glen Elmes and the LNP, and claimed to speak for the residents, they cut off any opportunity for the Noosa community to negotiate separation with the Queensland Government before the Coast councils were amalgamated. They made it an Opposition campaign
issue.

“The Greens campaigned for de-amalgamation during the last State election. It is still Greens policy for Noosa. However, establishing the actual wishes of Noosa residents today is the fundamental priority in considering Noosa’s future.

“The Greens believe in strong Local Government,” he said, “but the most important point is that a separate council should not be imposed on Noosa any more than amalgamation was. If the majority want the Regional Council to work better, then the new Government should respond to that.

“Earlier this year, Greens Leader, Bob Brown, sought to strengthen local government by calling for a federal referendum to include provisions in the Constitution to protect Councils in areas like Noosa. “Meanwhile the local branches of the Labor Party remain silent. I am sure that Glen Elmes himself is sincere about de-amalgamation but the LNP makes promises that have so many back-out provisions their commitment cannot be believed.

“Considering the affordability question is critical, but the debate is off the rails. On the one side the Alliance costings would support the argument for a new council. On the other side, Cr Brennan has aligned himself with the technocrats in the Regional Council and some opposition is based almost solely on the costs.

“The Noosa Greens believe the State Government, which inflicted amalgamation on Noosa, should cover the costs of separation if the residents of Noosa and surrounding communities wishing to join with Noosa are given an opportunity to vote on it and they actually support the creation of a new Noosa Council.”

Jim McDonald
Noosa Greens Candidate
13 December 2011

Greens’ spokesperson for gambling, Senator Richard Di Natale, claimed that the government should not use a trial to delay pokies reform, which is another reason to embrace $1 bets.

“There is an opportunity to do something to curb the scourge of problem gambling right now – we don’t know if that opportunity will exist in the next term or under a future government,” said Senator Di Natale.

“Clubs Australia are pushing for a trial of mandatory pre-commitment that would delay meaningful nation-wide pokies reform in the hope that the government changes and the status quo continues.

“$1 bet limits could be legislated this year and implemented immediately, according to the Greens’ 5 year timetable. There would be no need for a trial of implementation because it would not require any new technology.

“$1 bets is the most effective policy to curb problem gambling and it has support in the community and across the Parliament. This should be a no brainer.

“Clubs Australia understands this, which is why they are grasping at straws to stop it.

“They continue to make outrageous claims about the cost and now they claim that the Government should read the fine print of their agreement with Andrew Wilkie, which doesn’t mention $1 bets.

“Clubs Australia need to read the large print of the government’s agreement with Andrew Wilkie. The government has agreed to poker machine reform, the community supports it and action, not a trial, is what’s needed.”

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown has welcomed the release of the report by the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Local Government.

“The Gillard government and the Opposition should get behind this important and needed constitutional reform,” Senator Brown said.

“The panel’s outcome is the result of the process that stemmed from the agreement the Greens signed with Labor on 1 September 2010.”

The agreement stated that the parties would work together and with other parliamentarians to:

Hold referenda during the 43rd Parliament or at the next election on Indigenous constitutional recognition and recognition of local government in the Constitution.

The Australian Greens have announced today they will reintroduce their marriage equality bill into both houses of parliament when sittings resume in early 2012.

Seizing on the momentum of the ALP’s decision on marriage equality, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young invited both Labor and Liberal members to co-sign her bill.

“Marriage equality and fairness for all is about love and should be above politics,” the Greens’ marriage equality spokesperson said. “With support from members from all sides, I believe these bills can pass in time for the spring wedding season.”

The Greens senator has called on Tony Abbott to allow members of the coalition to have a conscience vote. “Individual members of the Liberal party have a proud history of crossing the floor on important pieces of legislation. I call on members of the Liberal party to exercise the freedom their party gives them on issues they believe in.

“The Australian Greens have been leading the way on marriage equality for more than a decade.

We welcome the change in the ALP’s platform as agreed at their national conference but we are disappointed some Labor members will be able to opt out of removing discrimination. True equality does not have an opt-out clause. “Cupid doesn’t discriminate and neither should the law.”

The federal government has at last let schools decide who they want to counsel their students, and ensure they have appropriate training, according to the Australian Greens.

“We welcome this announcement after taking this much-needed expansion to the 2010 election,” Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens’ spokesperson for youth affairs, said.

“The Greens have been saying for years a major problem with the programme was it forced schools into getting only a chaplain, rather than someone with basic qualifications.

“Now, schools will get to choose, and also know that whoever they decide to appoint will have minimum qualifications set by the Federal government – a glaring omission that needed fixing.

“Students will also benefit because while they are grappling with the complexities of being young, they will, at last, be talking with an adult who has qualifications, rather than just belonging to a religious group.

“The Greens will be monitoring the changes to the chaplaincy programme to ensure the government keeps its promises to amend the faults in a scheme which costs taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

“This expansion is welcome in that it now gives schools the choice, including the retention of a chaplain, if the school body determines they best suit their needs. The problem has all along been a lack of qualified staff to support students, but now this will finally happen.”

Evidence is continuing to mount against the Government’s flawed approach to legislation which alters disability support pension eligibility rules.

Australian Greens disabilities spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert today described the Government’s consultation process around the legislation had been woefully inadequate.

“The evidence presented to today’s Senate Committee hearing into the changes to the Disability Support Pension Impairment Tables makes it clear that the Government’s consultation and trial process was fundamentally flawed,” Senator Siewert said.

“I was astounded to hear that some of these impairment tables have been tested on just two people – despite the fact the Government plans to introduce the changes nationally at the beginning of next year.

“This is a piece of legislation which will see as many as many as 40% of new disability support payment (DSP) applicants placed on the lower Newstart Allowance payment, compounding existing financial hardship without taking any meaningful steps towards improving employment outcomes.

“While the Government continues with plans to move people off the DSP and on to Newstart, not enough is being done to remove the existing barriers to securing long term employment opportunities.

“It emerged during today’s hearing that only 16% of disability support pension recipients find sustainable employment through job service providers. This is a clear sign of the challenges faced by jobseekers and employers.

“These changes are being made under the guise of helping people transition to the workforce, but in reality people are being moved to a lower payment as a cost saving measure and 84% of them will stay there for the foreseeable future.

“I have no doubt that as a result of this legislation many people moved to Newstart will experiencing financial hardship.

“In November last year, the Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development stated that the rate of Newstart Allowance had fallen below the poverty line.

“This is effectively punishing people for being disabled, rather than offering them assistance to find an appropriate job and improve their personal circumstances.

“We must examine effective mechanisms to adequately support people in finding secure, long term employment. Not simply penalising them, as this legislation does,” Senator Siewert concluded.

The Australian Greens say they hope a High Court challenge to the National School Chaplaincy Programme, which began today, will succeed and lead to an overhaul of the scheme.

“This is of course a programme where Australian taxpayers spend hundreds of millions of dollars on staff to support students who can do so without appropriate qualifications,” Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens’ spokesperson for youth affairs, said.

“I look forward to hearing the results as they unfold in the court and hope that the High Court will uphold the need for students to have qualified staff there to support them, and ensure that it is quality over anything else that we hold up as important for our young people and children.

“Whether it’s bullying at school, issues to do with sexuality and other questions about the world, let’s make sure people have access to qualified support, not simply people who are there because they happen to have some connection to a religious group.”