Forum gets Mention in Queensland Parliament

Indooroopilly State MP Ronan Lee gave a speech in Queensland parliament today about the Westside Climate Action Group's Candidate's Forum and our Federal MP Michael Johnson's no-show. Here are excerpts from the speech...now we are in Hansard.

"Last Tuesday the Westside Climate Action Group organised its inaugural candidates forum for candidates contesting the federal electorate of Ryan and the 80 or so locals that attended, including me, heard from six of the candidates including Kevin07’s candidate Ross Daniels.

There was one notable omission – Michael Johnson.

I have previously spoken in this House about Michael Johnson’s silence on environmental issues but to snub a community group like this is ridiculous.

But Mr Speaker, he’s got form – according to The Westside News – Mr Johnson dodged a Higher Education candidates forum at UQ recently. And at an environmental forum in Jamboree recently, he turned up but left before Question time.

Mr Johnson’s spokeswoman said he had to leave ‘‘because the forum was running a little bit over’’.

Fancy that, people had a lot to say about climate change during a federal election campaign. Surely this isn’t a surprise to Michael Johnson.

But, Mr Speaker, its kind of understandable that a candidate would hide under their desk when asked to defend John Howard’s record on the environment.

Here’s what Michael Johnson had to say in Federal Parliament on 18 September – “I am happy to put on the record that I do support nuclear being put into the mix as an option for Australia’s future energy and environmental benefit”.

Ryan deserves better than a Federal MP that won’t answer questions locally about their position on key issues and we certainly deserve better than a Federal MP that supports nuclear power generation."

Ronan Lee was a supporter of the Forum since it's planning, helping with photocopying of flyers, and with organising a venue for us at no cost.