About
Penny is a solicitor at a national law firm. She is presently completing her Master of Laws at the University of Queensland, which has included studies in Human Rights Law, Human Rights Field Operations, Refugee Law, Sports Law and Theories of Dispute Resolution.
Before returning to university to study law in 2004, Penny was employed as a state secondary school teacher and Head of Department, working in schools in Brisbane, Bundaberg, Bamaga (Cape York), Gin Gin and Gladstone. Penny has also taught in the United Kingdom. In addition, Penny has tutored at the University of Queensland and Griffith University, and has supervised numerous trainee teachers at both undergraduate and post university level.
Penny is a member of the Queensland Law Society, the Australian Professional Indemnity Group, the Australian Insurance Law Association and the Queensland College of Teachers. She is the Convenor of the Redlands Branch of the Queensland Greens and is a National Delegate.
Penny has been involved in significant education reforms at the local and national level, which have required professional and community engagement and consultation. She is a skilled negotiator and advocate and is not afraid to stand up for her constituents and the community.
Penny lives in Cleveland with her husband Darin (a teacher) and her two daughters who are at university.
Penny will bring long term vision, integrity, decency and fairness to Parliament. No one will work harder for the electorate of Capalaba and for you.
When asked why she is standing for the Greens in the Capalaba electorate, Penny says ...
"Like you, I care about our community. I believe that all our citizens should have equal and ready access to high quality education, healthcare, public transport and other essential services. I believe in ensuring that all our children and young people are given the best possible start in life and that our elders are respected and taken care of after a lifetime of contribution and service. I believe in a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay and that small to medium business enterprises are the backbone of our economy. And I believe that as much as possible we should tread lightly on the earth and care for our environment so that it can nurture and sustain us now and for future generations.
I also believe that the old parties have forgotten many of these things. How else can we explain their tendency toward massive public spending on infrastructure solely for the use of large multinational mining corporations at the expense of adequate investment in schools, hospitals and public transport; or their preferencing of miners’ rights over those of farmers and their families and which threatens our food security?
I believe that Queensland is at a crossroads. We have the choice between a bright future, in which we support and invest in sectors such as tourism, agriculture and manufacturing which will sustain us and grow over the medium to longer term, or we can be blinded by the older parties’ short term quarry vision. By my standing in the seat of Capalaba, I want to offer you a real choice for a better future. A better future for you and your family, for Capalaba, and for Queensland."
Policies
Penny and the Queensland Greens are committed to genuinely representing the needs and interests of their constitutents in the Capalaba electorate across a range of policy areas. To do this, it is important that everyone's voice is heard on the issues that are important to them. Residents of Alexandra Hills, Birkdale, Capalaba and Thorneside, business people and community groups are invited to share their ideas, vision and concerns for the future of Capalaba with Penny by phone, email, post or in person.
Penny and the Queensland Greens are committed to:
- Bringing forward the development of the Eastern Busway to Capalaba, duplication of the Cleveland rail line and reducing the cost of public transport
- Local job creation, particularly in tourism and renewable energy and greater support to small business innovators, as well as advocating for public service jobs to be relocated to Capalaba
- Working with teachers and school communities to achieve evidence-based education reform
- Improving mental health and other allied health services with a focus on preventative health
- Securing funding for a Redland City Justice and Domestic Violence Centre
- Working to close the gap for indigenous residents of the Capalaba electorate
- Retaining public assets to be managed in the public interest
- Placing a moratorium on coal seam gas and protecting our coast and waterways
- Reforming Parliament to restore public faith in government accountability, integrity and honesty
