About
Dr Libby Connors has been involved in human rights, environmental and community politics for many years. Libby is a senior lecturer in history at the University of Southern Queensland where she teaches Australian history.
She is well-versed in the history of this state and its capital, with several publications on Queensland history. She is the co-author of three books on aspects of Australian history and is currently working on a fourth on early Queensland.
Libby's main motive for standing in this election was anxiety over the economic direction in which Queensland is heading.
"The boom in coal and gas is not being managed well. It is placing sustainable long-term industries such as agriculture and tourism at risk.
‘With only 4% of Queensland soils defined as suitable for cropping we should not be allowing mines to destroy our precious food bowls.
‘Nor should the coal seam gas sector be allowed to put at risk our precious water resources.
‘We must protect the Great Artesian Basin and local aquifers - gas development should only be allowed in areas where water, soil and environmentally sensitive regions are not put at risk.
‘You can’t eat coal and you can’t drink gas, but there are many energy alternatives that this state could develop and promote internationally ahead of fossil fuels.
‘The Queensland Greens are the only party to have consistently stood up on this issue. Both the ALP and the LNP seek to appease the coal and gas sector rather than putting the good of the state first. The Greens want a responsible mining policy for this state.’
Dr Connors said an urgent government priority should be providing solar panels to the aged, to schools and to nursing homes.
‘Those who can least afford rising costs should be the first to be fitted out with energy efficiency appliances and solar panels. In this way Queensland could work hand-in-hand with the federal government to help allay community fears about a carbon tax.’
Such a policy has the benefit of combining care for the most vulnerable with cutting greenhouse gas emissions. It also creates jobs.
Libby grew up in the Yeerongpilly electorate attending schools at Ekibin and Annerley before completing her PhD at the University of Queensland and says she is looking forward to the opportunity to give something back to the community in which she was raised.
When she has time for relaxation one of her favourite activities is a Sunday morning bike ride to Southbank with her husband to read the newspapers and enjoy a cup of coffee at a riverside café.
Contact Libby via email at libby.connors@qld.greens.org.au
Policies
Queensland is now falling victim to coal seam gas wells and coal mines which are putting at risk the Great Artesian Basin – one of the continent’s great natural wonders.
Already much of the great grazing lands in northwest and central Queensland have been lost to coal. Now the farmlands of the south as well as the Great Barrier Reef are threatened by further industrialisation by coal and gas.
Enough is enough but the major parties have shown that they cannot and will not take on the mining industry.
Responsible Mining is the only way forward, and the Queensland Greens have the policy, the knowledge and the political will.
