About
Jim McDonald is The Greens candidate for Noosa in the Queensland State election in 2012.
Jim has lived in the Noosa electorate for 16 years . He is a widower and was married for 34 years. He has a son and two granddaughters who live in Europe.
He has been involved in a number of community organisations, and is also active in the cultural life of the Sunshine Coast, singing in local choirs, writing plays, and acting in theatre companies. He is a paid-up member of Equity.
Jim spent much of his working life representing employees. In the 1970s at different times he was elected to two Victorian teachers’ union councils, and worked as a full-time union official for a decade in the 1980s. At University of Southern Queensland he was a Senior Lecturer in Industrial Relations and elected by academic staff to his university’s Council. His research specialisation was on management in small and medium sized businesses.
After retiring Jim ran a free industrial relations policy website, used throughout Australia by students, academics, unions and business, until turning to writing plays. In 2011 he worked 8 months full-time in the Griffith Business School at Griffith University.
In 2003 Jim stood for Noosa Council on an environmental platform, supporting the population cap. In the 1990s in Toowoomba he was spokesperson of the Northern Action Group, until moving to Noosa in 1995. During the 1970s he was an active member of the Labor Party in Victoria and was foundation president of a suburban branch in Melbourne.
At the last Federal election Jim stood for The Greens in Wide Bay. He says that one of the joys of that experience was helping out some small rural communities that were being let down by the system. He joined The Greens because “ there is a real Australian idealism in the Greens’ policies – the fair go that neither of the old parties seems much interested in any more.”
He says that what impressed him reading through The Greens’ policies was a concern for the condition of all Australians and the sustainability of how we live in this country. “These are policies that I am proud to stand for as a candidate in the upcoming State election.”
Jim said, “I will be an ambassador and a fearless advocate for Noosa in the State Parliament. I will represent the sustainable vision that has made Noosa what it is.”
Jim decided to accept the Noosa and Hinterland Greens nomination to stand for Noosa because "My strongest political belief is that individuals can make a difference. It's what democracy is about. That's why I spent so much of life working for a fair go. I would also like to give something back to my community."
Contact Jim at jim@noosagreens.org
Website: http://noosagreens.org
Policies
Jim is especially interested in policies about:
- Improved health service delivery
- promoting business and secure work opportunities for families
- planning for the effects of climate change on the electorate
- a light rail system linking all centres and a rapid rail system to Brisbane
- a regional food security strategy protected from mining and coal seam gas extraction
- a decent regional arts and culture policy giving equal weight to the arts and sport in our electorate
- ensuring senior citizens have opportunities for a fulfilling retirement
- promoting aged care and improved access to palliative care services in the electorate
- running a plebiscite to determine the electorate's wishes on getting back the Noosa Council without rate increases, and
- restoring the electorate's water to the control of our Council
