About
Grant Newson has lived in rural South Burnett near the Bunya Mountains for almost 10 years. He is a member of the local Rural Fire Brigade and isn’t afraid of pitching in and getting his hands dirty.
He has seen other electorates become a magnet for mining industries and has witnessed the environmental devastation these industries are causing and does not want the South Burnett area to suffer the same fate. "Our food sustainability needs to be put ahead of any mining exercise" said Mr. Newson. Mr Newson has been involved in supporting the residents of Kingaroy area removing the devastating Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) plant from the area and protecting the highly valuable cropping land from recent mining exploration is a priority for The Greens.
"The ALP and LNP showed where their loyalties really lay in Parliament when they joined forces against Senator Larissa Waters’ Bill relating to access rights and protecting your land," Mr. Newson said.
"With the major escalation of the Coal Seam Gas industry in Queensland, as exploration has already started here now, It is only a matter of time before the Nanango Electorate has these destructive industries moving in on some of the best farming lands in the State" said Mr Newson.
Mr Newson who has travelled throughout the Electorate and says, "The Nanango Electorate is one of the best places to live in Queensland and I hope to help keep it that way."
Some of his favorite pastimes are music, motor sports, fishing and gardening. Mr. Newson has embraced social media such as Facebook and Twitter @MaranoaGreens so that people can get regular updates and communicate quickly and easily with him on any topic.
Mr Newson stood in the last Federal Election for the seat of Maranoa and recorded the highest percentage of votes that The Greens have ever had in that Electorate.
Policies
Mr. Newson has raised several topics that he will be relating to during his campaigning
- A moratorium on CSG and UCG activities until the effects on ground water are understood
- A halt to mining, gas extraction and unsustainable development industries on productive agricultural land.
- Strengthening of landholders rights when dealing with resource companies who are attempting to access mineral deposits on privately owned land.
- The construction of new rail and increase rail capacity to reduce heavy vehicle numbers on the roads is urgent. Rate payers are having to pick up a lot of the tab for damage caused to Shire Roads from excess heavy vehicle traffic.
- All National Parks and State Forests maintenance needs to be increased for fire prevention. Sustainable burning and maintenance of fire breaks is essential.
- Protection and rehabilitation of our precious creeks, waterways and water sources
- Cease all logging inside the Bunya Mountains National Parks boundary.
- Increase in all Emergency Services Staff and Funding
- Increased funding for our local rural hospitals.
- Universal Dental Care for all Queenslanders
- Address the shortage of aged care facilities and short fall in aged care assistance in rural areas.
Contact Grant on nanango@qld.greens.org.au
Website: http://greens.org.au/Maranoa
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MaranoaGreens
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Grant-Newson/100000644585055
