The recently concluded Queensland elections were massively rigged against independent candidates like myself and the Greens. So too were the Brisbane City Council elections of a year ago in which I stood for Lord Mayor. Not entirely unexpectedly, my vote was low. Should such a result dissuade a candidate, who offers a real alternative to the two major parties, from standing again?

There are very many good reasons for voters to vote out the Bligh Labour Government. This is reflected in an opinion poll published in today's Courier Mail which shows that 57% don't believe that Labor deserves to win. However 57% of voters also don't believe that Lawrence Springborg's Liberal National Party deserves to win either. My own view is that electing a Springborg Liberal National Government would be leading Queensland out of the frying pan and into the fire.

The Queensland Government's over-the-top enforcement of noise pollution laws has driven live music from your local pub. Consequently youth have to travel long distances to music venues plagued with drugs and violence to obtain their entertainment.

Whilst hopes to save the historic Yungaba migrant hostel have been dashed by Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Paul Lucas's decision to use extraordinary powers to 'call in' the development application for Yungaba. Nevertheless, the Yungaba Action Group believes that the responsible politicians, including those now standing for re-election, should be held to account for their defiance of community wishes.

The Save the Mary River Brisbane Group has contacted all candidates contesting the Queensland elections to ask for their views on the proposed Traveston Dam and related issues such as water recycling. I sent my responses almost immediately. I cc'd my responses to a number of other candidates and invited them to send me their responses for publication on this web site.

Update: 17 Mar 09: Response from Mount Coot-tha candidates published.
Briefly: Candidates in favour of damming the Mary River and driving the lungfish to extinction: Andrew Fraser
Candidates against damming the Mary River: James Sinnamon, Larissa Waters, John Pollard.

See also: savethemaryriverbrisbane.wordpress.com

Questionairre to candidates in Mount Coot-tha electorate.

James Sinnamon, independent candidate for Mount Coot-tha, has attempted to get the Labor and Liberal National Parties to make a clear commitment to Queensland electors, who are overwhelmingly opposed to privatisation, to block any further sell-off of state government owned assets, but has yet to get a clear response. So, far state Labor Treasurer, against whom James Sinnamon is standing, has given three different responses.

See also: "Open letter to Anna Bligh and Andrew Fraser asking that any planned privatisations be put to the public at forthcoming elections" of 17 Feb 09, "Independent candidate seeks categorical assurance against privatisation from Laurence Springborg" of 11 Mar 09, "Why I am contesting the Queensland state elections as an independent" of 9 Mar 09, citizensagainstsellingtelstra.com.

The Brisbane Inner West Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a "Meet the candidate" Night on Monday 16 March at 6.30PM at the Brisbane Workers' Community Centre in Paddington.

Long-time environmental and anti-privatisation activist James Sinnamon who, stood for Lord Mayor of Brisbane in 2008, explains why he is standing as an independent candidate against Queensland State Treasurer, Andrew Fraser, what he hopes to achieve and how you can help.

Contents: End privatisation - stop the liquidation of Queensland, End Queensland Government encouragement of population growth, Demand action against homelessness and housing unaffordability, Labor's coal exports - a crime against this and future generations of humanity, Why a vote for me is not be a wasted vote, To intending Labor voters:, To intending Green voters:, To intending Liberal National Party voters:, What you can do.

In an open letter to Queensland's Premier Anna Bligh and Queensland's Treasurer Andrew Fraser, James Sinnamon, the Independent pro-democracy candidate for Mount Coot-tha asks for assurances that any plans to privatise any more public assets be put to the Queensland people at the forthcoming state elections.