Garry Claridge, The Greens candidate for Nicklin

I was born in Nambour and attended school there and Brisbane. My early career began in the Army at age 15 as an apprentice electronics tradesman. I then trained at the Office Cadet School at Portsea. After graduating as a Second Lieutenant at age 19, I spent time as an infantry platoon commander. The final years of my Army career where spent in Computing as a Systems Analyst and Project Manager.

After the Army I studied at Monash University and the University of New England. The major areas of study included mathematical modelling and economics.

Currently, I manage my own consulting business in which we mostly develop software for business information systems.

Key Messages:

Community empowerment and engagement. Be open and available. Value all collective and individual needs.

Priorities:

Promote local renewable energy projects to prevent the likes of the proposed construction of the Belli to Cooroy power lines, designed to deliver more coal powered electricity a long distance. As this power-line project typifies the Government's disrespectful attitude to families and communities and could be repeated in any part of this region.

Public transport enhancement to give people greater confidence in its reliability and extensibility. As a public transport user, in the Hinterland area, I understand the requirements.

Provide local council with building code directives to prevent inappropriate development and to allow only energy efficient buildings. These directives would also include methods for providing affordable housing.

Adaption to Climate Change is important in both the reduction of Green House Gasses and regional planning for the future of our children, and their children.

Communication:

Enable systems to engage the community in decision making processes.

These can range from use of the Internet to regular meetings and forums at many locations through-out the Nicklin region.

Use many visual aids when engaging the community on planning topics from real, and touchable models, to computer simulations.

Pass on, and share, information by regular newsletters and direct communication.