During the 2017 State Election campaign Sandy received a number of questions that were outside her policies but were nonetheless, no less important. Here are her replies to those questions.
Where do you stand on Adani?
Answer: Adani doesn’t pass the ‘Noosa Test’ and finally the ALP have realized that $1Billion in funding for an Adani railway doesn’t pass the QLD test. Our Noosa economy relies on the pristine environment that we currently enjoy. Any risk to the Great Barrier Reef is a risk to our environment and we will not support it. Adani will destroy valuable farm land for short term gain – coal that will be shipped to India for use in a country that is fast moving towards renewable energies.
What is you stand on the management of the commercial fishing in the river and North Shore?
Answer: The issue of commercial fishing in the Noosa River but particularly on the North Shore is vexed. There is no simple answer which would satisfy all interests. The current local catch is carefully managed under the TAC discipline which is different for each species .
Local fishing families have fished sustainably for generations. The fact that they still are fishers, after three or more generations, proves that case. The livelihoods of these families, the income the industry produces for the local economy and the catch consumed locally require acknowledgement and careful consideration before any change is implemented if at all.
The licensed fishers from NSW who take large hauls of mullet and that their catch and wealth is taken out of the local economy may be a more serious issue. It may be these for whom effort should be made to buy out their licenses and cease their practices. For example, rumours of by-catch abound.
The objective for any commercial fishing in the Noosa River or on the Noosa North Shore should be limited to and carried out by local resident licenced fishers only. The State should work to reduce the number of licences endorsed for those fisheries to establish an environmentally and economically sustainable commercial and amateur fishery.
However, in all cases, any change to the current licensing regime should be based on strong evidence and not supposition.
Where do you stand on assisted dying?
Answer: With the appropriate laws in place, I’m in favour. I’m following what’s happening in Victoria very closely. We all need to know we can die with dignity.
What are you views on medical cannabis for the sick and dying?
Answer: Medicinal cannabis is now available in Australia and I support its use. The Federal Government is facilitating access to medicinal cannabis products to patients with medical conditions for whom this treatment is appropriate. There will be a need for complementary legislation in each State to enable this and I will be supporting those changes as they arise.
Do you support same sex marriage?
Answer: Yes.
Will you (the running candidate) take action to ensure that:
1. A legislative ban on unconventional gas and open cut mines or expansions on all Strategic Cropping Land and high priority living areas such as the Sunshine Coast .
2. Enact a ban on unconventional gas in the Wide Bay-Burnett and the Fraser Coast (Maryborough and Bundaberg electorates).
3. Prohibit final voids* and require all mined land including voids, waste dumps and tailings dams to be fully rehabilitated and returned to an approximate original contour. All mines in QLD subject to binding, enforceable rehabilitation targets.
4. Apply these conditions to Adani as well as requiring Adani to post a full financial assurance consisting of a 50/50 split – bank guarantee and cash bond – for any given lease approval period reflecting the full cost of rehabilitation based on an independent calculation.
5. Outright rejection of the environmental authority and mining leases for Acland Stage 3 as recommended by the Queensland Land Court. Commit to the judicial review as the sole avenue to review the Land Court’s decision.
6. Veto the proposed $900M loan from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility.
7. Place strict limits on the volume of water that can be extracted from the Great Artesian Basin for mining and unconventional gas.
Answer: The concerns which underpin these questions are ones I share. I am concerned about diminishing prime agricultural land for mining, the impact of mining on the water quality of underground water reservoirs, the effects of unconventional mining and, where mining has occurred, the rehabilitation of that land by the miners responsible.
I am confident that, so long as we approach all issues but particularly those which concern us both with the right spirit, humanity and respect for our planet, the decisions we make will be sound and proper.
Where do you stand on exploration permits?
Answer: There are currently two coal exploration permits for the Noosa local government area. However, I would oppose the issue of any permit or approval which could negatively effect the water quality of our rivers and creeks or might compromise Noosa tourism, the backbone of our local economy.
Why do your policies only focus on Noosa and ignore Tewantin and other localilties?
Noosa is the name of our State electorate. The recent State electoral redistribution changed the boundaries of the Noosa State electorate to more reflect the Shire boundaries which now includes Tinbeerwah, Como, Kin Kin, Pinbarren, Cootharaba, Ringtail Creek, Pomona, Cooroibah, Boreen Pt, Peregian Beach, Marcus Beach, Sunrise Beach, Sunshine Beach, Castaways Beach, Noosaville and Noosa Heads.
With my history here (25 years) I am well versed on all the issues across the electorate.